Pakistan beaten by SL in 1st ODI

DAMBULLA: Pakistan lost the first One-day International of the five-match series against Sri Lanka by 36 runs here at the Rangiri Dambulla Interntional Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing 233, Pakistan were all out for 196 runs in 44.4 overs.

However, tail-enders Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer saved their team from embarrassment as they added 62 runs for the ninth wicket partnership as the chase was looking in control.

Umar Gul, last man out for 33, was the top-scorer followed by Fawad Alam (31) and Shahid Afridi (27).

Mohammad Aamer was run out after making 23 useful runs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka made 232-9 in the allotted 50 overs against after Pakistan captain Younis Khan, winning the toss, sent Sri Lanka into bat.

No Sri Lankan batsman could reach fifty as the highest individual score was 43, made by late-order batsman Angelo Mathews, followed by captain Kumar Sangakkara (36), Mahela Jayawardene (33) and tail-ender Muttiah Muralitharan (32 from only 15 balls with four boundaries and one six).

For Pakistan, pace-bowler Mohammad Aamer captured three for 45 on his international debut and Abdul Razzaq claimed two for 33 runs, respectively while Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each.

Teams:
Pakistan: Younus Khan (captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Shoaib Malik,
Kamran Akmal(wk), Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Abdul
Razzaq, Fawad Alam.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain & wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga,
Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews,
Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Thushara.

Pak-Afghan-Tajik agreement on cooperation

DUSHANBE: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan on Thursday agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy and communication sectors besides tackling the challenges of terrorism and extremism in the region. This was agreed in a trilateral meeting of the leaders of three countries at the picturesque resort Varzob, some 40 kilometres from Dushanbe.

During the meeting, the three leaders underscored the importance of further promoting bilateral and economic relations, with implementation of joint projects in areas of energy transfer from Tajikistan to Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as construction of inland rail road for transportation of passengers and goods.

The three sides agreed that terrorism is a regional phenomenon that necessitates a comprehensive, concerted and coordinated approach with full participation of regional states and local communities.

President Zardari in a joint stake out with two leaders termed the event historic that brought together the three nations to jointly own the challenges of terrorism and economy.

“We stand together and work together. We will jointly face all the challenges together,” President Zardari said, adding that the cooperation would result into the prosperity of future generation.

President Zardari proposed that the three leaders should meet every year to strengthen cooperation in various sectors.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Tajik President Emamoli also reiterated their resolve to cooperate for peace and stability in the region.

After the meeting, the three leaders also signed a joint declaration.

Pak to exist forever, talks vital: Pranab

NEW DELHI: Ruling out war as an option, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday reinforced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s position that there was no alternative but to keep talking to Pakistan but made it clear that there was no surrender by the government on the issue of combating cross-border terrorism.

“Neither have we succumbed to terrorism nor will we stop talking,” Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha during a debate on issues arising from the prime minister’s foreign visits, including his trip to Egypt where he met Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Action on terror was independent of any composite dialogue, he asserted.

“The NDA did it. The UPA did it. This is the way the world of diplomacy moves,” Mukherjee said while reminding parliament that over the last 10 years, governments across the political spectrum in India kept talking to Pakistan despite brief disruptions after terrorist attacks.

“We can’t erase Pakistan. It’s going to exist. War is no solution,” Mukherjee said while underlining the importance of keeping talks going with Pakistan.

Mukherjee, who was foreign minister when the Mumbai attacks took place, clarified that talking did not mean the resumption of a full-fledged dialogue.

“Keeping channels open does not mean surrendering our position on terrorism,” Mukherjee stressed, adding that Pakistan must act credibly and verifiably to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating from it’s soil.

He also defended the inclusion of Balochistan in the July 16 India-Pakistan joint statement saying a unilateral reference does not mean giving credibility to Pakistan’s allegations of any Indian role in unrest in Pakistan’s southwest province.

“We have no role to play in Balochistan,” he said.