Erdogan meets pops as Rome bans protests

Erdogan meets pops as Rome bans protests  

VATICAN CITY: Turkish President recap Tayyip Erdogan explains to Pop Francis the layout of Istanbul with the help of a map he gave as a gift to the pontiff during their meeting on Monday. On he pope's left is Emine, the President's wife. Mr Erdogan also presented to the pope a book on Jalaluddin Rumi's poetry. Pope Francis original St Peter's Basilica, which had two bell towers. Mr Erdogan is the first Turkish president to visit the Vatican in six decades- Vatican City: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Pope Francis on Monday while police enforced a protest ban in cetral Rome as feelings run high over Turkey's offensive against Kurdish militia inside Syria for the first such visit by a Turkish leader for 59 years, the Italian authorities have imposed a 24-hour ban on demonstrations which covers Erdogan's arrival late Sunday to his departure on Monday evening. A total of 3500 police have been deployed for the visit. Nevertheless a sit-in protest by 200 people, organised by a Kurdish association in Italy,  was scheduled to take place on Monday not far from the Vatican. Turkey on January 20 launched its olive Branch operation against Syrian Kurdish people's Protection Units (YPG) Militia which Ankara sees as a terror group and a threat to Turkish territory. The Turkish army and allied Ankara Backed Syrian rebel forces are seeking to oust the YPG from its western border stronghold of Afrin but the operation has faced fierce resistance. In Afrin, a new crime against humanity is under way the Kurdish association said. The pop, who has railed against the horrors of war and weapons of mass destruction, was likely to raise the Afrin issue during his meeting with Erdogan. Ahead of the meeting with Erdogan. Ahead of the meeting, Erdongan's convoy arrived at a deserted Saint Peter's Square, which was under heavy police protection. The YPG, while considered a terrorist group by Ankara, is allied to the United States in its battle against the militant Islamic State group.

Police begin probe into rape charges by our Staff correspondent

Police begin probe into rape charges

by our Staff correspondent 

Multan: Police on Wednesday started investigation into the allegations of a student of Bahauddin Zakariya University. The girl alleged that she was raped by one of her class fellows. She alleged that she was harassed and threatened by four friends of suspect and one of her teachers. The girl appeared before SSP (OPeration) Saifullah Khattak along with her father and informed him about the incident. The SSP directed Gulgashat SP Jaleel Imran to look into the matter who later sent her to center for violence against women. Talking to the media, the girl accused her class fellow of rape. She said one of the faculty members invited her to his house to have a meeting with his family. When i went there, the teacher, who was alone at the house. allegedly misbehaved with me. She said she had submitted a written application against six suspects. including the teacher, to the VC about the incident but no action was taken. However the BZU administration in a handout said no application was revived to the VC by the complainant. It said th girl even did not complain to the department chairman during the last on year. The matter will be inquired at university level. As per the available information no university teacher is involved in the matter as it is a private act outside the university. it stated. The handout said the university administration was unaware about the incident but now the administrations cooperating with the police in connection with the investigation. SP Imran said the girl told the police that she did not submit any application to the VC. The girl is yet to be medically examined he said.

Afghan security team visits Pakistan for talks

Afghan security team visits Pakistan for talks 

"With a wave of terror sweeping Afghanistan, Kabul's spymaster and interior minister meet civilian and military leaders" 

By Baqir Sajjad Syed

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan's top security officials on Wednesday made an unannounced trip to Islamabad for talks with the Pakistani leadership on security cooperation amid the highly volatile security situation in their country. Foreign Secretary Terminate Juana will meanwhile, lead a delegation to Kabul on Saturday (Feb 3) for bilateral talks. The visit by Afghan interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak and head of spy agency National Directorate of Security Masoom Stanekzai was announced by the Foreign Office on Twitter after the arrival of the high-level delegation. They met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other civilian and military leaders. Afghan government had requested that a high level delegation comprising Interior Minister and NDS chief would like to visit Pakistan Delegation is here and will have talks today FO spokesman Dr. Muhammad Faisal tweeted. The overall security situation in Afghanistan is said to be highly volatile with conflict between  the government and the Taliban continuing throughout most of the country. Three major attacks in Kabul over the past 10 days have brought additional focus on the worsening security situation there Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of not acting against terrorist sanctuaries on its soil a charge strongly denied by Islamabad. Bilateral mistrust has prevented the neighbors form improving their cooperation. The high ranking security delegation's visit follows a trip by Us Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan to Kabul a day earlier in which he had prodded the Afghan leadership to engage with Pakistani leaders. 

We will continue our dialogue with Pakistan. We also encourage the government of Afghanistan to continue its bilateral discussions with Pakistan. Pakistan needs to be part of the solution. Mr. Sullivan had told reporters in Kabul after talks with President Ghani and Chief executive Abdullah, according to VoA. Afghan envoy Dr Omar Zakilwal, howefer. says the visit took place in resp[ose to a message by Prime Minister Abbasi over the recent terrorist attacks in Kabul. Following recent horrific terrorist attacks in kabul Pm Abbasi conveyed a message to president Ghani to which it was responded to by high powered personal delegation by the president to meet the PM today he said. The visiting delegation had come with a personal message from President Ghani. The FO spokesman said the agenda was discussion on prospects of cooperation between the two countries. The talks mostly took place at the Prime Minister House. Neither side issued a statement on the discussions. Dr Faisal Says the visit of Foreign Secretary Janjua is not linked to the security delegation's  trip and had been scheduled long before. The foreign Office had a day earlier disclosed that 27 Haqqani network and Taliban fighters were handed over to Afghanistan in November last year. Ambassador Zakhilwal expressed his surprise over the news. This certainly is news to me It would be huge step forward in our important bilateral relations if this indeed happens, he tweeted in response to the publication of the reports about handover of the fighters.