Pentagon Says al-Qaida Still has Safe Haven Inside Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says al-Qaida still enjoys safe haven in some areas of eastern Afghanistan, and its presence worries the top American commander there.

Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby says Wednesday that al-Qaida has found places it can plan and train, but he was not specific about its locations.

Kirby was responding to questions about the announcement that the U.S.-led NATO force had killed al-Qaida’s second-ranking leader in Afghanistan in an airstrike in eastern Kunar province, which borders Pakistan. He says “any number” of al-Qaida in Afghanistan is a matter of concern for Marine Gen. John Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces there.

Read more »

Pakistan Criticality for Afghanistan Stability admitted by US

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary says formation of the group exploring safe passage was a tangible accomplishment. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States said they would explore ways to arrange safe passage for Afghan Taliban militants who wish to engage in peace talks, officials from the three countries said on Friday.

“We need to be able to find them, those who are willing to talk wherever they are,” Afghan deputy foreign minister Jawed Luddin said. “We need to provide … a safe passage and an environment where they feel safe and confident that they can engage in peace talks without any consequence.”

Representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States were meeting in Islamabad for two days as part of an initiative to revive stalled peace talks with the Afghan Taliban and to smooth relations between Washington and Islamabad.

Washington’s Special Representative Marc Grossman led the US delegation. He was the highest-level American official to visit Pakistan since a Nov 26 cross-border attack by Nato forces left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead and the US-Pakistan relationship in tatters.

The United States has been working for more than a year to revive stalled peace talks with the Afghan Taliban as it prepares for the withdrawal of most foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.

That campaign has become central to US strategy as officials conclude the Afghan war will not end on the battlefield alone.

“We really welcome this … initiative of the safe passage, which will mean our experts can meet and take this process further,” Luddin said.

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Jalil Jilani said the formation of the group exploring safe passage was a tangible accomplishment.

An “important aspect of this group will be an establishment of the subgroup on the safe passage,” Jilani said.

Efforts to salvage the peace process follow a series of US setbacks in Afghanistan: bloody riots caused by soldiers’ burning of the Quran; a staff sergeant’s alleged massacre of 17 villagers; and an 18-hour militant assault of Kabul last week.

Still, officials point to statistics charting a drop in ‘enemy-initiated attacks’ this spring. They were encouraged by recent steps to finalize a deal outlining the US-Afghan relationship, along with statements of support for the peace process by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

US officials hope to use all these developments to coax the Taliban’s leadership, under pressure from less senior fighters who oppose negotiations, to formally resume talks.

Read more »

Pak Army Chief General Ashfaq Will Meet Gen Mattis & Gen John Today

Pak Army Chief General Ashfaq will meet Gen Mattis & Gen John today.commander of U.S. Central Command James Matisse North Road, and the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, John Allen will appeal to the Pakistani army Chief of Staff General Kayan Swayze TODAY ‘Today (Wednesday).
According to inter-utility (ISPR) issued a statement, it was the events Salala after the first high-level meeting will focus on the investigation into this incident and improve coordination procedures at borders.
The meeting was also the day after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Barack Obama at the summit meeting in Seoul in nuclear margin.

Read more »

Prosperity in Pakistan begets Serenity in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said peace in Afghanistan was critical for the peace and security in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan always supported Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s peace efforts and would continue favour an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation.

In a meeting with delegation of Afghan Senators led by Fazal-e-Hadi Muslimyar at the PM House, the prime minister emphasised upon exchanging parliamentary delegations to strengthen their brotherly relations and between the peoples of the two countries.

He said exchange visits of parliamentarians were essential to enhance bilateral relations and Pakistan had always made consistent and sincere efforts to improve relations with Afghanistan.

He recalled that Pakistan did extend full cooperation to the Afghan team that visited Islamabad with regard to the investigation of assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan was committed to complete the construction of Torkham-Jalalabad Road.

He mentioned that Pakistan was offering 2,000 fully funded scholarships to the Afghan students and agreed to enhance the number of scholarships on the request of the leader of Afghan delegation.

Earlier, Chairman Senate Farooq H. Naik while addressing the members of the Afghan delegation said Pakistan attached much importance to its relations with Afghanistan because both the countries share common religion, culture, history and geographical proximity.

Leader of Afghan delegation Fazal-e-Hadi Muslimyar highlighted the commonalities between the people of two countries spread over the centuries, adding this had brought them together to strive for the common destiny of peace and prosperity.

Read more »

Join Pakistan Army as Officer – 24th Technical Cadet Course

Registration for 24th Technical Cadet Course is starting from 28 February till 15 March 2012 (Including Satuday/Sunday).

The Preliminary Tests ‘ll be held from 19 March- 30 March 2012 (Except Satuday/Sunday/Close Holidays) reported PakSoldiers.Com.

Eligibility Conditions are as follow:

a.	AGE	17 – 21 years on 1st September 2012 (relaxable for three months both in upper and lower age limit)
b.	GENDER	Male
c.	MARITAL STATUS	Unmarried
d.	NATIONALITY	Citizens of Pakistan, domiciles holders of Azad Kashmir / Gilgit Baltistan. Upon final selection candidates with dual nationality will have to surrender nationalities other than Pakistani.
e.	PHYSICAL STANDARDS (1) Minimum Height – 5’-4” (162.5 cm) (2) Weight – As per Body Mass Index
f.	EDUCATION FSc (Pre Engineering) Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry / Computer Studies / Computer Science with minimum 65% marks or ‘O’ level passed (English being compulsory) in five subjects and ‘A’ level passed in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry / Computer Studies/Computer Science in Grade A-C. (1) Candidates possessing qualifications such as ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level etc will be required to obtain Equivalence Certificate and conversion of marks from Inter Board of Chairmen Committee (IBCC), Ministry of Education, Islamabad and attach it with the application form. (2) Candidates who have passed FSc Part-I Examination with minimum 65% marks and appeared/are appearing in FSc Part-II / Final Examination can also apply on “HOPE Certificates” duly issued by the Head of the institutions. (3) Candidates with Computer Science instead of Chemistry in FSc can apply for Computer Software Engineering only.

Ineligibility Conditions:

a.“Not Recommended” twice by ISSB / GHQ Selection Board.

b. Declared medically unfit by concerned CMH / Appeal Medical Board.

c. Enrolled cadets and recruits withdrawn/resigned/discharged/dismissed from Armed Forces (Army, Navy & Air Force) training academies/institutions on grounds of discipline, character, medical, inefficiency, weak profile, or declared unsuitable.

d. An individual dismissed / removed from any other Government Service.

e. Diploma holders.

f. Convicted by a Court of Law for an offence involving moral turpitude.

g. Those studying in any of the Armed Forces Institutions/Academies or nominated against reserved defence quota seats / studying a Paying Cadet in any of the Armed Forces Technical Colleges.

Registration Process :

A candidate can register on Official Website of Pakistan Army. Date and time of test shall be intimated on internet, for which the individual should have an e-mail account. Candidates will report on exact date and time given for preliminary test on computerized roll no slip. Date once given will not be changed. Candidates will also bring along documents mentioned in para 6 and will pay prospectus fee on the day of test. Candidates MUST attain working knowledge of computer.

Contact your nearest Army Selection and Recruitment Centre for Registration:

Candidates may report at nearest AS&RCs for registration / allotment of roll no along with necessary documents mentioned in para 6 and the prospectus fee for completion of registration formalities. Candidates will bring these documents on the day of test as well.

	AS&RC	Telephone		AS&RC	Telephone
(1)	Peshawar	091-201-35885	(2)	Rawalpindi	051-561-34137
(3)	Lahore	042-6699-35885	(4)	Multan	061-531-35885
(5)	Hyderabad	0222-791-35885	(6)	Karachi	021-560-35885
(7)	Quetta	081-2490-35885	(8)	Gilgit	05811-961-35885

NOTE:

If you are calling from Mobile, call from WARID on these given numbers.

Written Test:

Written test will be based on multiple choice questions from English, Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry / Computer Studies / Computer Science (Only for CS students). The candidates declared successful in written test, will undergo physical tests at AS&RCs.

Physical Test:

Candidates are required to qualify following physical tests as under:-

(a)	1.6 km Run	8 1/2 Minutes
(b)	Push Ups	15 Repetitions in 2 Minutes
(c)	Sit Ups	15 Repetitions in 2 Minutes
(d)	Chin Ups	3 Repetitions in 2 Minutes
(e)	Ditch Crossing	7’4” x 7’4” with a depth of 4’

Preliminary Medical Tests:

Candidates will undergo initial medical test at AS&RCs.

Further Selection:

Short listed candidates will receive notice for ISSB tests through website as well as call up letters. Medical examination of ISSB recommended candidates will be carried out at nearby CMHs. Final selection will be made at GHQ on the basis of candidate’s overall performance. Allocation of disciplines will be made due considration to merit, choice and service requirements. Allotment of discipline/decision of GHQ will be final and no representation in this regard or request for change in discipline allotted will be entertained.

ACADEMIC/ MILITARY TRAINING

Academic:

S/No.	Discipline	Duration 4 years at
(1)	Civil Engineering	Military College of Engineering Risalpur (NUST)
(2)	Electrical (Telecommunication) Engineering	M­ilitary College of Signals Rawalpindi (NUST)
(3)	Computer Software Engineering
(4)	Electrical Engineering	College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Rawalpindi (NUST)
(5)	Mechanical Engineering
(6)	Computer Systems Engineering
(7)	Mechatronics Engineering
(8)	Aeronautical Engineering	College of Aeronautical Engineering, Risalpur (NUST)

Military Training:

One year military training at PMA Kakul, after obtaining Bachelor of Engineering (BE) Degree.

Documents Required at Army Selection Centres

1. Original Certificate / detailed Marks Sheet of Matric/FSc/Equivalent certificate. In case of ‘O’ Level / ’A’ Level, submission of Equivalence Certificate issued by IBCC is mandatory.

2. Computerized National Identity Card for 18 years and above or Computerized Form “B” along with Guardian’s Computerized National Identity Card (Father or Mother) for candidates less than 18 years of age.

3. One set of attested photocopies of above mentioned documents.

4. 6 x Colour Photos (duly attested front and back) by Principal/Class-1 Gazetted Officer.

5. Original as well as 3 x photocopies of ISSB “NOT RECOMMENDED” letter are also required for Repeater Candidates.

Important NOTE.

Old National Identity Card and Form “B” will not be accepted.

Read more »

Pakistan Army Conducting War Exercise near Jehlum

Pakistan Army is conducting war exercise at Tilla Field Firing Ranges near Jhelum reported PakSoldiers.Com.

According to military sources large number of troops are participating in the exercise. Gujranwala Corps Commander Lieutenant General Raheel Shareef visited the field area and witnessed the exercise. Corps commander was briefed on the tactical setting of the exercise by the field commanders on the occasion.

Raheel Shareef witnessed the firing of Artillery and heavy Infantry weapons during the exercise.

He appreciated the morale, skilful planning and conduct of exercise and highly commended the tactical skills as well as accurate firing standard of the troops. He lauded endurance and standard of professional readiness of Soldiers. During this exercise Director General Military training and General Officer Commanding (GOC) were also present.

Read more »

Job Opportunities in Pak Army

Read more »