CIA cancels Predator missile contract with Blackwater

CIA Director Leon Panetta has canceled a contract with the former Blackwater security firm that allowed the company's operatives to load missiles on Predator drones in Pakistan.Panetta canceled the contract earlier this year and the work is being transitioned to government personnel, a person familiar with the contract said Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the classified programme.Blackwater is now known as Xe Services. A spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the contract cancellation. The New York Times first reported the contract's existence in August.The CIA's Predator programme targets senior al-Qaida operatives and Taliban in Pakistan's tribal area along the border with Afghanistan, but the agency has never publicly confirmed its role in the operation.Since Jan. 28, 2008, there have been at least 67 suspected US missile strikes into Pakistan.

First made in Pakistan fighter to roll out tomorrow

This will kick start a new era in Pak-China relationship, and aviation industry, an official source told PENA News. Both China and PAF attach a lot of importance to this project, which is materializing after hectic and laborious efforts spread over almost a decade, sources said.The PAC has generated all the capability to produce the aircraft locally for its onward delivery to PAF besides materializing purchase orders from abroad. The JF-17 Thunder a new generation, light-weight, all weather, day/night multi-role fighter aircraft with glass cockpit, hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls and efficient man-machine interface will ensure a minimal pilot workload.The maximum speed of Mach 1.6 and a high thrust-to-weight ratio will enable it to perform well in an air defence role. An ability to carry short- as well as long-range air-to-air missiles lends the aircraft a first shot capability. In the surface attack role, a variety of weapons - conventional as well as precision-guided, a sophisticated avionics suite along with accurate weapon delivery system, ensure higher mission success rate. An effective ECM suite will greatly enhance survivability of the platform. Its anticipated air-to-air refuelling capability will provide the JF-17 with more loiter time to safeguard the frontiers and the ability to deliver the required punch at distance. It will replace the ageing fleets of A-5s, F-7Ps and the Mirages in the PAF inventory thus fulfilling a multi-role task.

Good news of 17th amendment repeal soon: Kaira

Talking to reporters here, the Information Minister said the President will address the joint session of the parliament of March 2010.He said that mere leveling of charges cannot take away the rights of any person. Even today there are people in the assemblies who have cases against them, he added.Qamar Zaman Kaira said all the candidates who contested general elections of 2008 were eligible and that the government will accept whatever decision the court announces on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).“Our government has also made good to a good extent the damage done to the country by the previous government,” he claimed, adding, the government has come up with Balochistan package for resolution of the province’s issues.

Enemies to gain sans Pak-India dialogue: PM

Talking to media here at the airport, the Premier said the evidence of Indian intrusion in Balochistan will be shared at an appropriate time.“Pakistan wants to have better relations with all of its neighbours,” he reiterated Pakistan’s stance.To a question on National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), PM Gilani said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has attained the present position after rendering huge sacrifices. Therefore, PPP must not be compared with Pervez Musharraf, he added.“PPP has faced the courts before and it will face them again… whatever decision the court makes will be acceptable to us,” he said.The Prime Minister said Pakistan intends to maintain the strategic partnership with the US and that the war on terror is not being fought for the US. “It is our own battle and we have the capacity to tackle the terrorists.”He said efforts are underway for obtaining drone technology from the US.