Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, addressing the UN General Assembly on November 13, stressed the need for cooperation amongst states to tackle global problems1. In his meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Zardari apprised her of the security situation in Pakistan and sought Washington’s help in restoring order in his country2. Zardari had earlier expressed the hope that President-elect Barack Obama would “re-evaluate American military strikes on Al Qaeda and Taliban targets” inside Pakistan3.

Meanwhile, at least 13 trucks carrying supplies for NATO forces were reportedly hijacked from the Peshawar-Tokham highway near Pakistan- Afghanistan border on November 10. Reports noted that the militants were from Afghanistan’s Nangrahar province4. A suicide bomb attack in Peshawar also killed at least 4 people and injured more than dozen on November 115.

In other developments, Finance Adviser, Shaukat Tareen announced at a press conference in Karachi on November 15 that the IMF would lend $7.6 billion to Pakistan to overcome its financial crisis6. Reports also noted that the Federal Investigations Agency (FIA) had broadened the scope of its investigations into the multi-billion dollar scam in which two officials of Khanani and Kalia International were the co-accused7.

• 1. Masood Haider and Anwar Iqbal, “World must combat bigotry: Zardari,” Dawn, November 14, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/14/top1.htm
• 2. Masood Haider and Anwar Iqbal, “Zardari seeks US help to stabilise Pakistan,” Dawn, November 13, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/13/top5.htm
• 3. “Zardari hopeful of change in US policy,” Dawn, November 11, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/11/top2.htm
• 4. Ibrahim Shinwari, “Militants raid Nato supplies, hijack 13 military trucks,” Dawn, November 11, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/11/top1.htm
• 5. “4 killed in suicide attack at Peshawar sports stadium,” Daily Times, November 12, 2008, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\12\story_12-11-2008_pg1_1
• 6. Saad Hasan, “IMF to lend $7.6 bn to Pakistan,” The News, November 16, 2008, http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp
• 7. “Govt widens dollar scam investigation,” Daily Times, November 10, 2008, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\10\story_10-11-2008_pg1_1