New York  - US President George W Bush Tuesday met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari as the two countries seek to defuse tension over US military strikes in Pakistan.

"Pakistan is an ally, and I look forward to deepening our relationship," Bush said. "Your words have been very strong about Pakistan's sovereign right and sovereign duty to protect your country, and the United States wants to help."

New York, Sept 23 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that only his country’s its troops were authorised to attack terrorists on its soil, and that any foreign troops crossing into its territory “violate the UN Charter”.

The statement assumes significance in the wake of the reported US troops’ incursions, both air and on the ground, into Pakistani territory to attack militants’ hideouts.

Frankfurt, Sept 23 : India should not pin much hopes on Wednesday’s meeting between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session, says Harish Khare, Senior Editor of Indian English daily The Hindu.

He said that since Zardari was new to the office of Pakistan President, not much should be expected from the meeting.

London, Sept 22: Only a few legal formalities are left after which newly-elected Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari would pocket nearly three million pounds from the Pakistani exchequer, the sale proceeds of Surrey Palace – the “Rockwood House” - which was sold through a liquidator in 2004 after Zardari and his slain spouse Benazir Bhutto were found guilty of corruption.

The total worth of the mansion today is estimated to be around 8.5 million pounds.

Islamabad, Sept 22 : Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry has reportedly ordered an inquiry into Saturday night’s gaffe wherein state owned TV channel, the PTV telecast President Asif Ali Zardari speech after the hotel blast as he was still rehearsing.

Zardari’s address to the nation was aimed at sharing the nation’s grief after the tragic blast which destroyed the Marriott Hotel. On the President’s insistence only, it was decided not to telecast it live, but first record it.

Lahore, Sept 21 : The PML-N has described the newly elected Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden speech at the joint session of the country’s Parliament yesterday as “long on words but short on deeds”.

Reacting to Zardari’s speech, PML-N leader Pervaiz Rashid said it was more of a “play of words”.

“It is not time for forceful words alone, but they must be matched with powerful actions as well,” the Dawn quoted him as saying.