Woman executed for allegedly helping the United States, being a prostitute

KHAR, Pakistan - Militants in Pakistan executed a woman after accusing her of being a spy for the U.S. and a prostitute, and said others would face the same fate, a government official and villagers said on Wednesday.

It was the first time that a woman had been killed in northwest Pakistan after being accused of spying, although militants have killed many men they accused of helping U.S. forces in neighboring Afghanistan.

The body of the unidentified woman was found dumped beside a road near the town of Khar in the Bajaur region on the Afghan border, a hotbed of support for al-Qaida and Taliban militants.

A note was found with the body, a government official said.

“She was killed because she was an American spy and a prostitute and those who found doing such activities will face the same fate,” said the official, who declined to be identified, citing the note.

A villager said the woman had apparently been strangled as there were rope marks on her neck.

“I didn’t see any bullet or knife wounds,” he said.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25090111

Pakistan test fires nuke-capable missile

 

By MUNIR AHMAD, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 8 minutes ago

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan on Friday successfully test-fired a medium-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile, an event witnessed by the nation’s new army chief, the military said.

The Strategic Missile Group launched the Shaheen-1 missile from an undisclosed location at the conclusion of the army’s annual field training exercises, a statement said. The missile has a range of 420 miles.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan routinely tests the various missiles in its arsenal, designed to match that of neighboring archrival India.

Friday’s launch was witnessed by army chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, who congratulated the troops on achieving “high standards of training and excellent results” during the exercise, the statement said.

Kayani recently took over as army chief after President Pervez Musharraf gave up that role in the face of Western and domestic pressure.

The statement quoted Kayani as saying that Pakistan’s armed forces were a “highly professional, motivated and well trained force” and were “capable of safeguarding and securing nuclear assets against all categories of threat.”

Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations and they have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

However, relations between them have improved since 2004 when they started a peace process to resolve all disputes, including their competing claims to the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Pakistan became a declared nuclear power in 1998, when it conducted underground nuclear tests in response to those carried out by India. Pakistan also tested its first missile the same year.

Source: Yahoo! News

Benazir Bhutto killed in attack

 

Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack.

News of her death was confirmed by a military spokesman and members of her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

Ms Bhutto had just addressed a pre-election rally in the town of Rawalpindi when the attack occurred.

At least 15 other people are reported killed in the attack and several more were injured. Ms Bhutto had twice been the country’s prime minister.

She had been campaigning ahead of elections due in January.

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