Musharraf, Osama doc to be released soon and sent abroad, claims Pak politician

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has assured the United States that former president retired General Pervez Musharraf will soon be released and allowed to go abroad.

The claim was made by former interior minister and a leader of the All Pakistan Muslim League Mian Zahid Sarfaraz.

Addressing a news conference on Sunday, Sarfaraz said that Sharif and US Secretary of State John Kerry had discussed the release of Musharraf and Dr Shakil Afridi, who had allegedly helped the US trace Osama bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad.

Zawahri vows Al Qaeda to free Aafia, Guantanamo inmates

DUBAI: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri said the group would spare no effort to free Aafia Siddiqui as well as the hunger striking inmates at Guantanamo Bay, according to an audio recording posted on the Internet on Wednesday.

“The (hunger) strike by our brothers at Guantanamo unmasks the true ugly face of (the United States of) America,” Zawahri said in an audio recording posted on an Islamist website and whose authenticity could not be verified.

Obama hosts Ramzan dinner at White House

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama saluted Muslim Americans on Thursday for their contributions in helping build the United States as business entrepreneurs, technology innovators and pioneers in medicine.

Obama spoke at a White House dinner he hosted to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. The meal, or iftar, breaks the day of fasting when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.

US denies "rumours" of nuclear energy talks with Pakistan

The United States has flatly denied "rumours" from Islamabad that it had discussed the possibility of civil nuclear energy cooperation with Pakistan, but said it was supportive of Islamabad's efforts with its energy problems.

"We'd seen those rumours, but I can confirm there was no discussion of civilian nuclear technology," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters Wednesday when asked about such reports from Islamabad citing official source.