Pakistan and China on Tuesday pledged to take their bilateral trade to $ 15 billion by 2011, in their effort bringing economic ties at par with their strong political and strategic partnership. These views were expressed by Federal Minister for Housing and Works Rehmat Ullah Kakar after his meeting with Secretary General of CPC Kashgar, Shi Dagang. The meeting was held between the two leaders during the week-long 4th Kashgar Central and South Asia Trade Fair that started on June 28, the Commercial and Economic Counsellor of Pakistan Embassy Dr. Naeem Khan told APP on return from Kashgar.

Mr. Shi expressed the hope that following implementation of Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and China the bilateral trade would further improve.

The meeting was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Lue Zhao Hui and Managing Director of Pakistan Housing Authority Raja Mohammad Abbas besides other members of Pakistan delegation.

The Secretary General of CPC thanked the Minister and his delegation for participating in the Fair in large number.

On the occasion, he also expressed his gratitude for the massive relief goods provided by the Pakistani government for the May 12 Sichuan devastated earthquake.

Minister for Housing Rehmat Kakar called for greater coordination between the customs, immigration and Quarantine departments as well as among the Administrations of Xingjian and Northern Areas for smooth flow of bilateral trade.

He also highlighted the importance of Pakistan and China Cross Boarder Economic Zones.

The Minister said that Pakistan is keen to improve its communication and infrastructure network and in this connection he pointed out that the expansion of Karakarum Highway is already taken in hand at a cost of $ 500 Million.

He further said that a feasibility study to lay a railway network between Havalian to Kashgar at a cost of Rs 144 million has also been carried out by the Government of Pakistan.

He said that with improved communication network and integrated boarder management there will be much greater trade through the KKH.

The Housing Minister lauded the excellent arrangements made by the Chinese government for the Beijing Olympic and expressed the confidence that the August 8-24 sports gala would be the most successful ever staged in the history.

“The government and people of Pakistan fully support one China policy and strongly condemn those who elements who wanted to involve politics in the Games”, he added.

Out of 200 stalls established in the fair, 50 stalls have been set up by the Pakistani exhibitors while 28 by the business community of Northern Areas.

In the Pakistani pavilion, the business community has exhibited goods produced in the country showcasing the high quality products which are attracting the visitors in the international fair of the economic importance.

In the Northern Areas Stalls gem stones and local crafts have been displayed for the attraction of the visitors.

The 4th Kashgar Central and South Asia Trade fair will conclude on July 2.

Leader of Muslim League-N Mian Nawaz Sharif said President Musharraf’s policy of war against terror should be reviewed.

During a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, Nawaz Sharif said that war against terror should get approval from the parliament.

He also expressed reservation over the operation underway in tribal areas and urged that negotiations should be used instead of force to resolve the issue.

Shairf protested the US-led coalition attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas and termed these attack against sovereignty of the country.

He said that nation wants restoration of deposed judges and voted for this mandate in February 18 elections.

Sharif added that he is trying to convince his coalition party Pakistan Peoples Party to impeach unpopular President Musharraf.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has reportedly told a visiting five-member US Congressional delegation that his country would not tolerate a recurrence of US-led NATO attack on Pakistani troops on June 11 from across the Afghanistan border.

He described the attack on a Pakistani post in Mohmand Agency killing 12 Frontier Corps personnel, as "intolerable".

The US Senators are visiting Pakistan to gather an idea about the prevailing situation in Pakistan, especially in border areas.

"The targeted attack on Pakistan's observation post on June 11 was absolutely intolerable," presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi quoted President Musharraf as saying.

According to him, led by Senator Benjamin Cardin the US delegation was told that the unjustified attack, which killed a Major and 12 soldiers, had enraged the people of Pakistan, a Pakistani daily reported.

Qureshi said the American senators agreed with the president that the US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan should not violate Pakistan's air space. The president briefed the senators on the situation in the NWFP, particularly on efforts to prevent Taliban from entering Peshawar from tribal areas, Qureshi said and added: "These senators are visiting Pakistan to gauge the political situation as well as to know what is happening in border areas."

On the occasion, the President said that Al Qaeda operatives were supporting Taliban and some miscreants to create problems in the NWFP. "But they would never succeed in their nefarious designs," Qureshi quoted the President as saying.

Fifty-five paramilitary troops taken hostage by tribesmen in Pakistan's troubled Kurram Agency were released today after negotiations between a local Jirga and officials.

Shia Turi tribesmen abducted the 55 frontier corps personnel in Piwar area of Kurram Agency on Monday. Turi tribal elder Ali Akbar said they had mistaken the paramilitary personnel for members of the rival Suni Mengal tribe.

Hundreds of people have died in sectarian clashes between Turi and Mengal tribesmen in Kurram Agency since last year. Fresh clashes recently erupted in the semi-autonomous tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Akbar said his men had taken the frontier corps personnel hostage because there were reports of Mengal tribesmen moving about in the area wearing paramilitary uniforms.

The frontier corps convoy was on its way from a base in Parachinar, the Mian town of Kurram agency, to Tari Mangal on the frontier when the Turi tribesmen blocked the main road and captured the paramilitary personnel.

The local political administration then sent a Jirga to the area to secure the release of the abducted personnel. Akbar said the local administration should inform tribal elders about the movements of paramilitary personnel.

The situation in Kurram Agency has been tense since a recent attack on a convoy that resulted in the death of 12 Shia Turi men.

In a separate incident, 11 members of the Khasadar militia force abducted by the Taliban nine days ago were released in Jamrud area of Khyber Agency today following negotiations between the militants and a local Jirga.

The militants had kidnapped 15 Khasadar militia personnel from Ali Masjid in Khyber Agency. There was no information on the fate of the four other abducted personnel.