Tendulkar has pushed frontiers of human excellence: Pakistan daily

ISLAMABAD: Sachin Tendulkar's feat of becoming the first cricketer in history to score 50 Test centuries "needs to be seen at par with efforts in any field to push the frontiers of human excellence", a leading Pakistani daily said on Tuesday.

"Putting Sachin Tendulkar's latest feat in a strictly cricketing context would not be fair to the sportsman," an editorial in Dawn said.

"His achievements in the world of cricket need to be seen on a par with efforts in any field - science, art, literature, etc - to push the frontiers of human excellence."

Tendulkar achieved the feat when he drove South African bowler Dale Steyn through the covers for a single on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at Super Sport Park at Centurian on Sunday. It took him 196 balls with 12 fours and one six. India, however, lost the Test on Monday with Sachin remaining unbeaten on 111.

Sachin's achievement "speaks volumes for the cricketer's temperament and his ability to adapt to changing times in the sports world", Dawn said.

"In fact, 20 years is a long time in the international sporting arena. Surviving for that long takes courage and determination. It is, as such, also about having enough passion for the game over that long a period to keep one's fitness level at the requisite level.

"Sachin Tendulkar, needless to say, has all these attributes and more - class, for instance. It is no wonder that he has survived two decades, and has, in fact, ruled the cricketing world," the editorial maintained.

Comparing him to Australian legend Don Bradman, Dawn said: "Tendulkar has established himself as the modern era's equivalent of the iconic Don. The many feathers in his cap appear to justify this perception. He has no more points to prove to anyone."

It went on to say that for the cricketing world, "it has been a privilege to watch Sachin Tendulkar demonstrate his remarkable skills. There is hardly anyone who would disagree with this, especially as his talent on the field has been observed for several years now. Today, it is just about celebrating a cricketing giant who goes by the name of Sachin Tendulkar".

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Blast kills 42 at food aid center in Pakistan - Washington Post

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN - A suicide bomber, possibly a woman, struck a food distribution center in Pakistan's restive tribal belt Saturday morning, killing at least 42 people and injuring dozens.

The attack occurred in the main city in the Bajaur area as hundreds of members of the Salarzai tribe, which had been displaced by fighting between militants and the Pakistani army, lined up to collect World Food Program rations at a government center, a local official said. The dead and injured included several children, according to the official, who was not authorized to speak to the media.

A day earlier, 150 militants launched a coordinated attack on military checkpoints in the neighboring Mohmand agency, leading to a battle that left 11 Pakistani soldiers and 24 militants dead.

Both attacks underscored insurgents' continued ability to strike state targets despite various Pakistani army offensives. The army declared victory over militants in Bajaur last year, but the insurgents have reorganized.

Witnesses said the bomber who struck Saturday was dressed in a head-to-toe robe known as a burqa, leading to speculation that a woman staged the attack. Officials said they could not confirm the bomber's sex. Islamist insurgents in Pakistan, based in the semiautonomous tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, have rarely deployed female bombers. Such a tactic would indicate a shift in strategy.

No group asserted responsibility for the attack. But insurgents have denounced the presence of all foreign relief organizations in Pakistan, and they have targeted aid distribution centers and refugee camps. Last year, the Pakistani Taliban bombed a World Food Program office in Islamabad, the nation's capital.

Militants have also focused attacks on pro-government tribes, which include the Salarzai. The tribe was the first in Bajaur to organize a pro-government militia to combat the Taliban.

Zahid Ali, a tribesman who witnessed the Saturday attack, said it occurred at a spot where security forces were searching people who wanted to enter the government compound to collect aid.

"A suicide bomber stormed into the gathering and detonated himself," said the local official, who works for the Bajaur political administration. Zakir Hussain, who heads the civilian administration in the area, could not be reached.

Brulliard reported from Islamabad.

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Pakistan must fight terrorism strongly: Sarkozy - Hindustan Times

Calling upon Pakistan to fight terrorism with determination, French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday appreciated India's efforts to "stretch out its hand" towards its South Asian neighbour. "We applaud India's effort to stretch out its hand. We call upon Pakistan to fight terrorism determinedly," Sarkozy said in reply to a query on counter-terrorism cooperation at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

He pointed out that France had stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with India in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in which two French officials had also died. They were among the 166 victims.

"Our cooperation on counter-terrorism is without limits," said Sarkozy.

He said he appreciated Manmohan Singh's effort to reach out to Pakistan, despite the Indian public opinion being "deeply shocked and traumatised" by the terror savagery.

Sarkozy said that in the 21st century, the only way to ensure peace and security was to "develop together and not against another", making a reference to the European Union, where former foes now work together.

The president said both France and India have the "same reading on Afghanistan".

Sarkozy is on a four-day visit to India that ends Tuesday.

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