Islamabad  - The leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan has directed Pakistani militants to immediately halt attacks on Pakistani forces and divert their resources to defeat the US-led international forces in Afghanistan, a media report said on Tuesday.

Mullah Mohammad Omar, the head of ousted Taliban regime, in a letter addressed to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership and other militant leaders, said that fighting fellow Muslims was not jihad.

Brussels - Any European Union-based airline will be able to operate flights to Pakistan from any EU state which has an agreement with the Islamic Republic, after officials from the two sides signed a deal to that effect on Tuesday.

The agreement does not force either side to open up new routes or increase traffic. That is to remain an issue for negotiation between Pakistan and individual EU member states.

Islamabad - Four dancers arrested for misdemeanour offenses in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab had to entertain police for the whole night to secure bail the next day, a news report said on Tuesday.

The women were detained late Saturday night when they were performing at a matrimonial function in Fatehgarh area, the English-language Daily Times newspaper reported. Five drunken men were also taken into custody.

The dancers alleged that officials thrashed them for refusing to dance in the police station.

Lahore, Feb. 24 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has urged the governments of both Pakistan and India to probe the Mumbai terror attacks sincerely so as to restore the lost faith between citizens of both the countries.

"No crime, no matter how carefully planned, could remain hidden in the modern era. It is in the best interest of both the governments to investigate terror events wholeheartedly with all devotion and vigilance," The News quoted Sharif, as saying.

Islamabad, Feb.

Islamabad, Feb. 24 : Burying their differences, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif have decided to work together to promote democratic traditions.

At a meeting at the Prime Minister's residence here, both leaders decided to resolve their issues, and agreed not to issue aggressive statements against each other.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Gilani urged workers of both parties (PPP and PML-N) to work together.