Washington, Apr 15 : Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt General Shuja Pasha is in the United States on a two-day visit for talks on intelligence cooperation in wake of US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen’s warning that violence in Afghanistan is set to rise in the coming months.

Lt General. Shuja Pasha’s visit to the US comes amidst increasing concerns voiced by US generals regarding the ISI’s alleged relationship with militant organisations.

Lahore, Apr 15 : President Asif Ali Zardari’s decision to bow to Pakistan Taliban demands and impose the Nizam-e-Adl in the Malakand division of the Swat Valley is marked by al Qaeda-allied militants taking over Buner, just 60 miles away from Islamabad.

The takeover in Buner, with almost no resistance from security forces, marks a major advance for the Taliban, a report published in The St Petersburg Times states.

Lahore, Apr 15 : Pakistan's peace deal with the Taliban in Swat despite strong objections from the United States may heighten tensions between the two countries, and may lead to an expansion of drone strikes inside the Tribal Areas, Stratfor, the US private intelligence agency, has said.

Stratfor said the Obama Administration could even move to expand its unilateral air strikes in the Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan, which is considered as a safe haven for al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

Lahore, Apr 15 : Pakistan's Minister of Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati has said that the Government should not help NATO and the US against the Taliban, as both parties are open enemies of the country.

Addressing workers of the Federal of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) zonal office, he said: "They are not our friends and wanted to make India the leading power of the region."

Islamabad, Apr 15 : Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi chief Sufi Mohammad has interpreted the Nizam-i-Adl regulation in an audacious manner, by asserting that the law would protect Pakistan Taliban militants accused of brutal killings and burning scores of schools for girls in the name of Islam from prosecution.

Asked on Tuesday in a television interview whether the new courts would hear complaints from Swat residents about Mullah Fazlullah or his followers, Sufi Mohammad said they could not.

Hangu, Apr 15 : Pakistan Taliban has forcibly occupied 10 houses of Sikhs in lower Orakzai Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, took their leader as hostage for ransom and demanded Rs. 50 million as Jiziya (religious tax) from them.

Residents of Ferozekhel area in Lower Orakzai Agency said on Tuesday that around 10 Sikh families left the agency after the demand by the Taliban, who said they were a minority and liable to pay the tax for living in the area in accordance with sharia.