Karachi, Feb. 24 : While top teams of the world have refused to visit Pakistan citing security reasons, former England fast bowler Dominic Cork has said that if he has no problem touring the country, other teams should not hesitate in doing so.

Cork, who is in Pakistan as a television commentator, for the ongoing Sri Lanka Test series, said: "I enjoy being in Karachi. I said this before when I came for the one-day matches last month. I have a great time as a commentator, it is fantastic experience with top class hospitality and arrangements."

Peshawar, Feb. 24 : Taliban militants indefinitely extended a cease-fire Tuesday in a northwestern Pakistani valley, granting more time for peace talks that the United States worries could create an insurgent haven in the nuclear-armed country.

Troops and insurgents have been observing a truce in the Swat valley since February 15, when Pakistani authorities offered to introduce an Islamic law in the region if militants lay down their arms.

A hard-line cleric is negotiating a possible deal with the militants on behalf of the government.

Peshawar, Feb. 24 : Pakistan security forces have vowed that the Bajaur region would be under their control by the next month, and have attributed the delay in part to the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Talking to media persons here, Inspector General (IG) of Frontier Corp. (FC) Major General Tariq Khan said that the operation could have been concluded earlier, but adverse weather conditions, and rise in tensions between India and Pakistan after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks hampered security forces' efforts.

He termed the Bajaur region as a `centre of gravity' for increasing militancy in the whole region.

Washington, Feb. 24: The US would take into account the viewpoints of Pakistan and Afghanistan before deciding on a new strategy for the region.

The US State Department spokesperson, Robert Wood has said that Washington would certainly want Pakistan and Afghanistan to have their say, before the Obama administration's review of policy towards the region.

"We think it is important that Pakistan and Afghanistan, their governments, feed into that review," The Daily Times quoted Wood, as saying.

He said it was necessary to have a wide variety of views because the issue is very intricate, and cannot be worked out without involving all the sides.

Islamabad  - Taliban militants announced Tuesday an open-ended ceasefire in Pakistan's volatile Swat district, where the government had promised to enforce sharia laws in return for peace.

The indefinite extension was made by the militants' top consultative council, or shura, which meets at an undisclosed location in Swat's Matta area.

"We are ready for an indefinite ceasefire," Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said.

Karachi, Feb. 24: The lack-luster performance by the Pakistani bowlers in the on-going Test match against Sri Lanka has irked former speedster Waqar Younis.

Younis has termed the present Pakistani pace attack as `inexperienced'.

"Our fast bowlers are too inexperienced. I mean our three fast bowlers have a total of 20 or 25 Tests combined. Only Umar Gul has some Test experience while Sohail Khan is a debutant, and Yasir Arafat has played just one Test," The News quoted Younis, as saying.