Mingora, Apr 28 : Tension in the Swat Valley is fast growing as the Taliban continues armed patrolling and threatened a group of lawyers and recalcitrant militants. It also captured a telephone exchange in Sataal and looted two NGO offices in Saidu Sharif while preparing for a showdown with security forces.

Meanwhile, US spy planes flew over Matta, Kabal, Charbagh and Khwazakhela as Maulana Fazlullah was chairing a meeting of his commanders at an undisclosed location in the valley to devise future strategy.

Karachi, Apr 28 : The Taliban has reportedly warned co-education institutions in Karachi to close down or face consequences, spreading panic among colleges and schools in the city.

Various educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities have received threatening letters and phone calls from the Taliban.

A source privy to the matter revealed that most schools have an affiliation with the Cambridge Board, where male and female students study together without discrimination.

Washington, Apr 28 : US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen is frustrated particularly by the Pakistani political leadership's inability to confront the extremist threat and remains "very alarmed by the growing Taliban threat in the country," his spokesman has said.

Admiral Mullen has made two visits to Pakistan in less than three weeks and is "deeply alarmed by what he has found," his spokesman, Captain John Kirby told CNN.

"It is a very precarious security situation." Admiral Mullen is particularly "alarmed by what is going on in the Swat Valley," Captain Kirby said.

Peshawar, Apr 28 : The exact whereabouts of Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi chief Sufi Muhammad, who negotiated the Swat deal with NWFP Government, is not known and is reportedly missing since April 25.

The government as well as followers of his defunct TNSM are looking for him for one reason: To start talks to remove the last few remaining hurdles in the enforcement of Nizam-i-Adl Regulation in Swat.

Sufi Mohammad was last seen leaving for his home in Lal Qila area from his base camp in Maidan on Saturday afternoon, The Dawn reported.

Islamabad - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Pakistani counterpart on Monday put aside diplomatic tensions over the planned expulsion of 11 Pakistani students arrested in a suspected bomb plot, as they held talks on fight against terrorism. British authorities arrested 12 men, 11 of them Pakistanis, all of which were later released without charge, but the Pakistani nationals, including 10 with student visas, were now facing possible deportation.

Islamabad, Apr 27: Britain and Pakistan on Monday expressed a firm resolve to jointly fight against terrorism.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani addressing a joint press conference along with his British counterpart Gordon Brown, said Pakistani is united in the battle against terrorism.

“Britain and Pakistan will jointly fight the menace of terrorism,” The News quoted him, as saying. Gilani said Pakistan will continue to play its part toward stabilizing Afghanistan.