Islamabad, Sept 27: After restoration of democracy in Pakistan, the country’s new President Asif Ali Zardari is facing an arduous task, as compared to his predecessor – military dictator turned President Pervez Musharraf, in fighting out the extremists amid growing scepticism towards the US among the Pakistani populace and media, said Times magazine in its latest issue.

Islamabad, Sept 27 : Amid the growing insure atmosphere in Pakistan in the wake of fresh spate of suicide bombings, nearly 120 foreign diplomats posted in Islamabad have urged upon the country’s government to take stringent measures to protect their lives and properties.

They emphasized the need for better security cover around the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad which houses over 35 embassies, and demanded that security should be beefed up around their embassies especially those situated in residential areas.

The meeting, presided over by advisor to the prime minister, Rehman Malik, was convened on the demand of diplomats who said they were feeling “insecure” in the country in the backdrop of the suicide bombing at the Marriott Hotel.

Kabul, Sept. 27 : Faced with an ever more aggressive Taliban, NATO alliance troops are planning a winter "development surge" in the form of civil works projects in eastern Afghanistan.

According to the Washington Post, the plan has been designed to win over tribes in regions near the Pakistan border and to prevent the younger generation from joining the Taliban''s ranks.

The paper quoted military officials here as saying that the troops will maintain their armed pressure simultaneously.

Poonch/Srinagar, Sept 27 : Civil construction work is progressing fast in Kashmir to facilitate trade with Pakistan administered Kashmir.

A trade centre and a truck terminal near the Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point on the Line of Control (LoC) is under construction, authorities said.

Washington, Sept. 26 : Describing the talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari as positive, forward looking and seeking potential, Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said both leaders held detailed discussions in New York, and covered all aspects of the relationship.

Islamabad, Sept 26 : The Muslim world should formulate a comprehensive strategy to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, said Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here last evening.

He said that terrorism had no faith and that laid stress on the need to ensure that the fight against terrorism did not turn into a clash between the West and the world of Islam.