Lahore, Apr. 20 : The US Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke has said that there is an increased risk of Islamabad being affected by the Swat deal inked between the Taliban and the government of Pakistan.

"You cannot deal with these people by giving away territory. They are now getting closer and closer to Islamabad and Punjab," Holbrooke said.

Lahore, Apr. 19 : Until the issues regarding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack are resolved between India and Pakistan, it is almost unrealistic to expect New Delhi to restart peace talks with Islamabad, an expert has said.

Former CIA Middle-East expert and a key advisor to President Barack Obama, Bruce Riedel says the Mumbai attack is the core of the issue between India and Pakistan currently.

Lahore, Apr. 19 : Bollywood beauties Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra may have an unending list of fans, and the now the list also includes the name of former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf.

In an interview to a television channel Musharraf admitted that the two most famous Bollywood actresses, Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra, were his favourites.

Musharraf said he is enjoying life after retirement, and is attending weddings and visiting restaurants, as he does not feel any danger to his life in the country.

Lahore, Apr. 18 : Concerned by the increasing extremist activists and their expanding writ in the area, the European Commission (EC) has adopted a new three-year programme to fight terrorism, trafficking and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The programme, which is developed by the EC together with experts from European Union (EU) member states, also includes Africa's Sahel region, The Daily Times reports.

Lahore, Apr. 17 : In a recent episode of honor killing in Pakistan, an 18-year-old girl was murdered by her brother-in-law in an area that falls under thejuridiction of the Kahna Police Division.

The victim was identified as Shamim Bibi, whose in-laws alleged that she was having an illicit relationship with a neighbour.

They said she eloped with the man, after which elders of both families interfered and handed her over to her legal husband, Nawaz Ali.

However, her brother-in-law, Azam, shot her to death.

Lahore, Apr. 17 : Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif "appears to be the man of the moment" for the Obama administration, which is increasingly paying great attention to him, the Washington Times claims.

"The United States has realized that he enjoys broad-based support in Pakistan and expects him to play an effective role in the fight against terrorism," the Daily Times quoted Professor Rasul Bakhsh Rais, as saying.