IHRC appoints Veena Malik Goodwill Ambassador

ISLAMABAD: The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has appointed Pakistani actress Veena Malik Goodwill Ambassador.

Veena Malik was appointed during a ceremony held here on Friday and joins he husband who was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador earlier.

After the ceremony Venna Malik spoke with Geo News about adjusting to married life saying that her husband gets her a diamond ring every time the couple fights.

Her husband Asad Bashir Khan said Veena had several film offers and would act if a good role came along. Asad revealed that Veena would also cook for him.

Pak-US military, intel cooperation strengthening: Ambassador Jilani

WASHINGTON: Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani said that military cooperation and intelligence sharing between Pakistan and the US is progressing smoothly, Geo News reported on Tuesday.

Talking to Geo News after attending a dinner in Washington, Ambassador Jilani said that the cooperation between Pakistan and the US over the Pak-Afghanistan border vigilance will continue even in more effective manner.

He said that Pakistan had a clear stance over the Afghan presidential elections that there would be no interference. The international community including the US had lauded Pakistan’s role for a stable region.

Ambassador Jilani told that Pakistan is likely to receive a payment from Asian Development Bank and World Bank next month while the next tranche of $350 million under Coalition Support Fund will be transferred to Pakistan in few days.

US ambassador to India quits after rift

WASHINGTON: The US ambassador to India resigned Monday in the wake of a bitter rift between the usually friendly countries following a diplomat's arrest in New York.

The announcement by Nancy Powell, a veteran diplomat with extensive experience in South Asia, comes days before India heads into elections in which the Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi -- formerly a US pariah -- is forecast by polls to become prime minister.

Powell, in a brief statement, did not elaborate on her reasons but said that her decision was "planned for some time" and that she will retire by the end of May in the eastern US state of Delaware. She is in her late 60s.

Powell, who has been ambassador for less than two years, submitted her resignation to President Barack Obama and announced her decision at a meeting of staff in New Delhi, said the statement issued by the embassy.

She is leaving after the worst crisis between the United States and India since they started building a warmer relationship in the 1990s. India voiced outrage in December when one of its diplomats, Devyani Khobragade, was arrested and strip-searched in New York on charges of underpaying her servant.

US diplomats expressed regret over the diplomat's treatment but appeared to have been blind-sided by the decision taken by prosecutors. Khobragade returned to India under a deal, but prosecutors went ahead in March with a second indictment.

In February, Powell took the lead in US policy by meeting with Modi, the chief minister of the western state of Gujarat and candidate for prime minister of the right-leaning Bharatiya Janata Party.

The United States had earlier refused Modi a visa on human rights grounds over anti-Muslim riots in 2002 in which more than 1,000 people were killed. Critics accused Modi of turning a blind eye or worse to the violence, although investigations cleared him of personal blame.

Despite the controversy in Washington over Modi, most policymakers agreed that the United States needed to reach out to him due to the likelihood he will become prime minister.

Powell, who holds the prestigious title of career ambassador, served as a US diplomat for 37 years and was previously the top US envoy in Ghana, Nepal, Pakistan and Uganda.

Ukraine’s ambassador in Moscow meets Russian deputy minister

MOSCOW: Ukraine's ambassador to Russia and a deputy Russian foreign minister held a "frank" meeting on Saturday, Moscow said, without giving details of any discussion of Russian-occupied Crimea.
Envoy Vladimir Yelchenko met deputy minister Grigory Karasin, the Russian foreign ministry said, and "issues of Russo-Ukrainian relations were discussed in a frank atmosphere".
Russia has denounced the overthrow of Ukrainian President President Viktor Yanukovich in mass protests last month as a coup, and declared the country's interim leadership illegitimate.
Russia has seized control of Crimea, a Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula with a Russian-speaking majority, where overnight confrontations between Russian troops and besieged Ukrainian soldiers raised tensions further on Saturday.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Friday Ukraine was ready for talks with Russia, but Moscow must first withdraw its troops, abide by international agreements and halt its support for "separatists and terrorists".
He said he had requested a second telephone call with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The two premiers spoke on March 1, the only high-level contact between the counntries since the crisis began.

Ambassador Jilani discusses Pak-US ties with key Congressman

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Jalil Abbas Jilani visited the Capitol Hill to meet with Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican from New Jersey, and Chairman Defence Appropriations sub-committee and discussed Pakistan-US relations.
Ambassador Jilani had a wide-ranging discussion with Congressman Frelinghuysen on Pakistan-US bilateral cooperation, the Pakistani embassy said Thursday.
Congressman Frelinghuysen appreciated Pakistan's sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
He also noted that a vibrant Pakistani-American community in New Jersey was playing an active role in strengthening the bilateral relationship.