Pakistani hope of joining anti-terror front dashed

Despite intense lobbying, Pakistan’s hope of joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to boost its anti-terrorism credentials has ...

Despite intense lobbying, Pakistan’s hope of joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to boost its anti-terrorism credentials has been dashed with the regional security group deciding not to admit new members till it sets its house in order.

The third SCO leadership summit to be held on May 28-29 in Moscow will not discuss the group’s expansion although some countries like Pakistan have applied to become members of the group, Chinese foreign ministry officials said here.

Islamic leader calls on India to end US influence

LAHORE: A radical Islamic leader has called on India for help to end US influence in the region, and invited New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally.

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‘‘We invite India to help stop US interference in this region and decide our problems amicably ourselves,’’ said Qazi Hussein Ahmed, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest and most organised Islamic party, at a conference on Kashmir here last evening.

Ahmed’s group has long been wary of Pakistani government ties to the US and opposes Indian control over Jammu and kashmir.

‘‘Dialogue with India is useless unless India recognises Kashmir as a disputed territory,’’ he said. (Agencies)

‘‘The SCO is at an initial stage and is faced with a lot of work concerning the development of its mechanisms. Therefore, its members have decided not to admit new members for the time being,’’ Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said, adding that the SCO would follow the principle of openness and accept more members in the future.

Pakistan has already submitted its application. However, the SCO, comprising China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have not taken a decision on expanding the group further.

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Zhang said Chinese President Hu Jintao would attend the SCO summit in Moscow that is expected to formally approve the SCO charter and announce several new initiatives by the group, formally launched in 2001 in Shanghai city in east China.

The summit will decide the modalities for funding the SCO headquarters in Beijing and counter-terrorism centre in Bishkek, the appointment of the first secretary general of the organisation and plans for security and economic cooperation. (PTI)