NEWS BRIEFS
Medvedev, Obama discuss deal to cut nukes
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on December 13 held talks by phone to discuss a new accord on cutting nuclear arsenals, the Kremlin said in a statement. Media reports have said they expect the two presidents to sign the successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expired on December 5, in a European capital next week. "The presidents had an exchange of opinions ... concerning the results and perspectives of work on this important document for the strategic stability of the world," the statement said. Medvedev and Obama stressed the "intensive character" of the work of Russian and U.S. delegations in Geneva which "allow us to talk of considerable progress in the negotiation process". "The two heads of state agreed on asking [the delegations] to actively pursue work ... in order to reach definitive agreements on all issues," the statement added. The new agreement on which the delegations have been working for more than six months in Geneva is due to take over from START 1. Medvedev will travel to Copenhagen for the final stages of the U.N. Climate talks on December 17 and 18. Obama is also expected in the Danish capital on December 18 for the end of the conference. Medvedev and Obama in July set a goal of slashing the number of warheads on either side to between 1,500 and 1,675 and the number of "carriers" capable of delivering them to between 500 and 1,100. Source: www.defensenews.com Mullen raises Balochistan issue with India
US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said he has raised the issue of interference into Balochistan with the Indian leadership. Talking to a private TV channel, Mullen said he talked to his Indian counterparts, both former and current, and the Indian political leadership about Pakistan's reservations. He said he had also discussed the issue with Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was involved in the killings of US citizens, Mullen said adding that Al Qaeda-Taliban collaboration in the Pak-Afghan border area had spurred violence in both countries. The US Army chief said Pak Army has taken up vital measures to cope with the extremists and clinched successes, adding the relations between Pakistan and the US are based on mutual interests. He also said if Indo-Pak tension is terminated and headway towards the resolution of Kashmir issue is achieved, then the issue regarding the regional stability to a large extent would be resolved. Mullen ruled out putting any US troops on Pakistani soil for anti-militant operations along the Afghan border and said a stable and supportive Kabul would help Islamabad in formulating its future strategy. "No, no. There's no absolutely no provision, nor or no discussion of putting any US troops in Pakistan," he told the PBS channel when asked if the US troops could target terrorists on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border. Source: www.defence.pk
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on December 13 held talks by phone to discuss a new accord on cutting nuclear arsenals, the Kremlin said in a statement. Media reports have said they expect the two presidents to sign the successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expired on December 5, in a European capital next week. "The presidents had an exchange of opinions ... concerning the results and perspectives of work on this important document for the strategic stability of the world," the statement said. Medvedev and Obama stressed the "intensive character" of the work of Russian and U.S. delegations in Geneva which "allow us to talk of considerable progress in the negotiation process". "The two heads of state agreed on asking [the delegations] to actively pursue work ... in order to reach definitive agreements on all issues," the statement added. The new agreement on which the delegations have been working for more than six months in Geneva is due to take over from START 1. Medvedev will travel to Copenhagen for the final stages of the U.N. Climate talks on December 17 and 18. Obama is also expected in the Danish capital on December 18 for the end of the conference. Medvedev and Obama in July set a goal of slashing the number of warheads on either side to between 1,500 and 1,675 and the number of "carriers" capable of delivering them to between 500 and 1,100. Source: www.defensenews.com Mullen raises Balochistan issue with India
US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said he has raised the issue of interference into Balochistan with the Indian leadership. Talking to a private TV channel, Mullen said he talked to his Indian counterparts, both former and current, and the Indian political leadership about Pakistan's reservations. He said he had also discussed the issue with Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was involved in the killings of US citizens, Mullen said adding that Al Qaeda-Taliban collaboration in the Pak-Afghan border area had spurred violence in both countries. The US Army chief said Pak Army has taken up vital measures to cope with the extremists and clinched successes, adding the relations between Pakistan and the US are based on mutual interests. He also said if Indo-Pak tension is terminated and headway towards the resolution of Kashmir issue is achieved, then the issue regarding the regional stability to a large extent would be resolved. Mullen ruled out putting any US troops on Pakistani soil for anti-militant operations along the Afghan border and said a stable and supportive Kabul would help Islamabad in formulating its future strategy. "No, no. There's no absolutely no provision, nor or no discussion of putting any US troops in Pakistan," he told the PBS channel when asked if the US troops could target terrorists on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border. Source: www.defence.pk
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