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| Zardari offers India Kashmir hope | | | Islamabad | Sep 9
Asif Ali Zardari today took over as Pakistan's President and swiftly pledged to come out with "some good news" on Kashmir before this month-end.
The 53-year-old businessman-turned politician, who spent over a decade behind the bars on corruption and other charges, was administered oath of office by Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar in a ceremony at the presidential palace attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai among others.
Zardari, husband of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, said he would work together with all neighbouring countries. "We shall stand with each other, we shall not stand in each other's way."
He assumes charge at a time when terrorism and extremism have touched new heights in Pakistan and the economy is in shambles.
Apart from striving to restore political stability, Zardari, the 12th President of Pakistan, has to meet pressures from one-time ally Nawaz Sharif of PML-N who parted ways with the ruling coalition last month on the issue of reinstatement of sacked judges.
Zardari's predecessor Pervez Musharraf and Sharif were conspicuous by their absence at the swearing-in ceremony that saw his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the co-Chairman of the ruling PPP, and daughters Bakhtawar and Asifa cheer for him in presence of Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and the two other service chiefs.
Soon after being sworn-in, Zardari, flanked by his Afghan counterpart, addressed a press meet during which he suggested that there could be some forward movement soon on resolving the Kashmir issue with India. |
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