KARACHI/ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s acting
central bank governor, who approved what analysts say were
highly risky interest rate cuts, was appointed as State Bank of
Pakistan governor on Wednesday, a spokesman for President
Asif Ali Zardari said.

Yaseen Anwar assumed duties on an interim basis
three months ago after the former governor of the State Bank of
Pakistan resigned citing “differences of opinion on policy
actions.”

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s acting
central bank governor, who approved what analysts say were
highly risky interest rate cuts, was appointed as State Bank of
Pakistan Governor on Wednesday, official sources said.

“Yes, Mr. Yaseen Anwar has been appointed as governor of the
State Bank,” a senior government official told Reuters.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan will only hold peace talks with Taliban insurgents if they lay down their arms first, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Tuesday, after both sides signaled willingness to consider negotiations.

“The minimum agenda is that they give up arms and come forward and then there will be talks. But if they think they will keep Kalashnikovs in their hands and also hold talks, that will not happen,” he told reporters.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s intelligence chief on Thursday denied U.S. accusations that the country supports the Haqqani network, an Afghan militant group blamed for an attack on the American embassy in Kabul.

“There are other intelligence networks supporting groups who operate inside Afghanistan. We have never paid a penny or provided even a single bullet to the Haqqani network,” Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha told Reuters after meeting political leaders over heavily strained U.S.-Pakistani ties.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan, facing a crisis in relations with the United States, appears to be seeking more support from powerful ally China.

Pakistani officials have been heaping praise on China since its public security minister arrived here on Monday for high-level talks as Washington piles pressure on Islamabad to cut ties with a militant group blamed for attacks on U.S. targets.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani met with his top commanders on Sunday in a “special” meeting to discuss the security situation, the military said, as the war of words with the United States escalated.

The extraordinary meeting of the corps commanders came against the backdrop of sharp U.S. allegations that Pakistan army’s powerful spy agency supported the Haqqani militant group Washington blames for the recent attack on its embassy and other targets in Kabul.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on Sunday called a “special” meeting of his top commanders to discuss the security situation, the military said, as the war of words with the United States escalated.

The extraordinary meeting of the corps commanders came against the backdrop of sharp U.S. allegations that Pakistan army’s powerful spy agency supported the Haqqani militant group Washington blames for the recent attack on its embassy and other targets in Kabul.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on Sunday called a “special” meeting of his top commanders to discuss the security situation, the military said, as the war of words with the United States escalated.

The extraordinary meeting of the corps commanders came against the backdrop of sharp U.S. allegations that Pakistan army’s powerful spy agency supported the Haqqani militant group Washington blames for the recent attack on its embassy and other targets in Kabul.

ISLAMABAD, Sept 22 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s Baluchistan
province has objected to a mining lease being sought by a joint
venture between Antofagasta and Barrick Gold ,
further delaying a major planned copper and gold project in the
country’s southwest.

London-listed Antofagasta and Canadian group Barrick Gold
are partners in the Tethyan Cooper Co (TCC) joint venture which
has a 75 percent interest in the Reko Diq project and submitted
an application for a licence in February.

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Seasonal floods across South Asia have largely spared summer crops this year, helping meet output targets for key rice and cane harvests, but Pakistan could import more cotton after losing about two million bales of the fibre to rains.

Shipments from a region that is among the world’s top producers of grain, sugar and oilseeds will reduce price volatility and bring relief to several Asian governments trying to combat food-led inflation.