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Strategies & Market Trends : India Coffee House -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JPR who wrote (8404)	10/14/1999 11:28:00 AM
From: ratan lal	Respond to of 12475

JPR The msg is clear. Govt. of the people for the people by the people. Not of Koran, by Koran for Koran which is, as are all relegions, twisted to fit the ruler(s). Hence the differing practices in different parts of the world. ratan

To: JPR who wrote (8404)	10/14/1999 11:36:00 AM
From: JPR	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 12475

Pakistan Coup Leader Under Pressure Filed at 8:55 a.m. EDT 10/14/99 By The Associated Press ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- With the country firmly in his control, Pakistan's military chief was reportedly seeking a way to restore constitutional democracy, a presidential spokesman said today. In a possibly ominous sign, however, troops sealed off the parliament building, throwing out staffers and a few lawmakers, a day before the legislature was scheduled to meet. Since Tuesday's army coup ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf has been sequestered in meetings with politicians, past and present, including conservative President Rafiq Tarar. Tarar's spokesman, Irfan Siddiqi, said Musharraf is looking to restore civilian rule -- an effort the president supports. In Pakistan, the presidency is a largely symbolic post. ``The rehabilitation of the democratic process as soon as possible is a goal shared by both men,' he told The Associated Press. Before the coup, parliament had been slated to meet on Friday. Soldiers today asked staffers and the few legislators who had returned to their offices to leave the building. The troops then closed the building. ``They just told us to leave,' and provided no explanation, said one worker who refused to give his name. Soldiers had closed down parliament the night of the coup but had later allowed workers back in. Pakistan's stock market, reopening for the first time since the coup, plunged today, and authorities ordered tight restrictions on foreign currency transactions. Musharraf has not made any public statements since his televised address to the nation early Wednesday morning. According to political analysts in Pakistan, Musharraf could call early elections; change the prime minister, but keep Parliament intact; induct a national coalition government of politicians from Pakistan's many political parties; create a civil administration of technocrats and retired politicians; or run the country himself. The army has ruled Pakistan for 25 of its 52 years, although the country has had a fragile democracy for 11 years. International demand has been building for a quick return to democracy. In Washington, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the coup created a ``level of uncertainty' in South Asia. She said U.S. officials were trying to persuade Pakistan's military leaders to restore democratic government. ``A military takeover of this kind ... does make it difficult to continue business as usual,' she said. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the army to restore civilian rule quickly. The International Monetary Fund, which last year negotiated a $1.6 billion loan to Pakistan, announced an immediate cutoff until democracy is restored. Economists say Pakistan's battered economy can ill-afford further delays in international funding. Its foreign reserves are roughly $1.5 billion, enough to cover only two months of imports, in a nation heavily dependent on foreign shipments of even its staples, such as cooking oil. Tuesday's swift coup -- sparked by Sharif's attempt to fire Musharraf -- capped months of growing army resentment against the premier for backing away from the fight over Kashmir, a territory claimed by both India and Pakistan. President Clinton pressured Sharif into convincing Islamic fighters to pull back, reportedly outraging and humiliating army leaders. India and Pakistan have fought three wars in 52 years, and both conducted nuclear tests last year. Washington played down concerns about the coup's affect on Pakistan's nuclear program, since it has always been under the military's control. India put its soldiers on alert following the coup, a move the army spokesman in Pakistan called ``ridiculous' and a ploy to raise international concerns. ``India's action was totally absurd ... putting its forces on alert ... as if Pakistan is going to precipitate a war,' Brig. Rashid Quereshi told The Associated Press. Many in both countries believe Musharraf orchestrated the incursion this spring of Islamic militants into the Indian section of Kashmir. That incursion led to months of bloody fighting with Indian troops. The fighting -- which India says also involved Pakistani troops -- wrecked fledgling negotiations between the two countries and many feared it would spiral into full-fledged war. The location of Pakistan's ousted prime minister was unclear today. Newspapers reported Sharif had been sent ``to an unknown destination.' Official sources however told the independent news agency News Network International that Sharif had been taken to his hometown, Lahore. In the days prior to Sharif's firing of Musharraf there were daily newspaper reports that he had asked the army chief to resign so the prime minister could put his own ally, Gen. Zia Uddin, in the job. English language newspapers today reported that several pro-Sharif military officials had been arrested and would be tried in a military court. Throughout Pakistan, people took the coup in stride and few longed for quick elections. ``There should be no elections before accountability,' said Abdul Rashid, a lawyer in Lahore. The Karachi 100-Share Index plunged 8 percent in early trading today because of panic selling by investors. It recovered some lost ground by midday. Meanwhile, Pakistan's growing isolation continued. The Commonwealth -- a grouping of former British colonies -- said it might suspend Pakistan's membership, a move last taken in 1995 against Nigeria. The European Union also said it would postpone a new trade deal with Pakistan for the time being.

To: JPR who wrote (8404)	10/14/1999 1:35:00 PM
From: sea_biscuit	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 12475

It is deeply a matter of concern for India because such a rogue state has nuclear capability and now a dictator is the head of the country. Well, Pakistan definitely owes a big "thank you" to India for that. China was playing a balancing game in the subcontinent by reining in Pakistan and possibly denying the latter some key subsystems that would complete Pakistan's nuclear jigsaw. China even refused to provide Pakistan with an N-umbrella. And that's when India rushed in with its "brilliant" nuclear tests, enabling Pakistan to force China's hand and ensuring that Pakistan has its own N-umbrella. Congratulations, folks! Great job! <g> If somehow the world leaders can think of stripping Pakistani of it's nuclear capability then it will become their internal problem. Salim.R.K, India That is silly. The genie is out of the bottle now, and that's it. It is really India's problem now. It is up to India to deal with uncontrolled proliferation in the region. Of course, the Israelis are going to be mighty pleased with India for muddying the waters and enabling Israel's foes get their hands on Pakistan's new-found N-capabilities. Way to go, India! Keep it up! :-)