Islamabad, Feb. 10 : President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the federal government is fully committed to defeating militancy in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and in parts of the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP).

"Government would provide all resources to tackle terrorism and extremism," Zardari told the country's Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, on Monday.

The Nation quoted Zardari as saying: "If Taliban continued abduction and killing of innocent people, then the government would have no other option but to use force."

Lahore, Feb. 10 : The Pakistan Cricket Board's marketing chief, Dr Ahsan Malik, has resigned from the post, The Nations reports.

It was not clear what prompted Malik to resign but PCB inner circles suggested that he was uncomfortable with the present set-up.

Malik served the Board for about two and a half years, and was known for his closeness to former chief, Dr Nasim Ashraf.

He helped the PCB to emerge from a financial crisis by notching-up a 140 million US dollar deal for its international television rights, which the PCB chief Ijaz Butt had branded as his (Butt) `own' achievement.

Karachi, Feb. 10 : A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee headed by Board chairman Ijaz Butt will be visiting New Delhi to attend an emergency meeting of the
2011 World Cup Central Organising Committee to be held on February 19, The News reports.

Butt will be accompanied by PCB's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Saleem Altaf and new Managing Director Salman Butt.

Top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will also be attending the meeting.

Islamabad, Feb. 10 : US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke has said that Washington will review its policy on Pakistan.

"The United States looks forward to reviewing our policies and renewing our commitment and friendship with the people of Pakistan," the Daily Times quoted Holbrooke as saying.

Islamabad, Feb.

Lahore, Feb. 10: The Sri Lankan cricket team will return to Pakistan on February 14 to participate in the two match Test series starting February 21.

The islanders would be playing a two-day practice game from February 17 before taking on the home side in Karachi.

The second Test match scheduled to start on March 1 will be played in Lahore, the Nation reported.