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.

London, Apr 27: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has cancelled a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as he arrived in Islamabad for talks with the Pakistani leadership.

Brown, who arrived in Pakistan this afternoon after talks in Afghanistan, told reporters on the plane that he would hold a meeting with President Zardari.

But instead of a joint press conference with Zardari in Islamabad, it has emerged that Brown will appear alongside Pakistani premier Yusuf Raza Gilani.

Peshawar, Apr 27: Pakistani security forces have killed at least 46 militants in a ground and air operation against the Taliban in the troubled Lower Dir on Monday, the army has said.

According to security sources, 46 militants including two top commanders Qari Quresh and Maulana Shahid were killed by the Frontier Corps troops in Maidan area of Lower Dir.

Paramilitary troops and helicopter gunships bombed suspected bases in Lower Dir for a second day running, The News reported.