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The United States has put all bilateral contacts with Pakistan on hold until Islamabad releases an employee of the its consulate in Lahore, arrested for shooting down two men. Reports noted that the dispute could affect three major events planned this year i.e. President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Washington; the next round of US-Pakistan strategic dialogue and trilateral talks involving Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States.1
Reports noted that gas supply to nine districts of Baluchistan was suspended after two main pipelines were blown up near Dera Murad Jamali in Nasirabad district. A relief camp set up by the Turkish Red Cross was damaged.2 Meanwhile, a suicide attack targeting a military parade on killed at least 14 security officials in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Mardan, police sources noted. The blast took place inside the Punjab Regiment Centre in the city’s cantonment area.3
In other developments, Pakistan’s military reported that it has successfully test-fired a cruise missile capable of carrying” strategic and conventional” war heads. An army statement noted the Hatf-VII or Babur missile, which has a range of 360 miles (600 kilometers), was test-fired from an undisclosed location on Thursday. However, the statement did not specifically if the missile could carry nuclear warheads.4
- 1. “US postpone bilateral contacts until Davis freed” , Dawn, February 8, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/08/us-postpones-bilateral-contacts-till-davi...
- 2. “Baluchistan without gas after blasts in pipelines”, Dawn, February 9, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/09/balochistan-without-gas-after-blasts-in-p...
- 3. “Suicide blast kills 14 security officials in Mardan”, Dawn, February 10, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/10/blast-in-mardan-casualties-feared.html
- 4. “Pakistan successfully test fires Hatf-VII missile”, Dawn, February 10, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/10/pakistan-army-says-missile-test-is-succes...