Washington, Feb. 10 : The dilemma before the United States at the moment is that some elements of the Pakistani Government continue to support the Taliban as "a proxy organization in Afghanistan."

According to Seth Jones, a terrorism analyst at the RAND Corporation, there is growing concern among American military and intelligence officials about different militants'' havens in Pakistan that they fear could thwart American military efforts in Afghanistan this year.

Washington, Feb. 10: In his first news conference after assuming office as the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama on Monday called for the rooting out of all safe havens for terrorists in Afghanistan and other states.

Laying stress on his concerns about a lack of progress on the political front in this respect, Obama said Afghanistan lags behind Iraq.

Washington, Feb. 10 : The White House announced on Monday that it would conduct a review of the nation''s cyber security to "ensure that U. S. Government cyber security initiatives are appropriately integrated, resourced and coordinated with Congress and the private sector."

According to a release, the announcement comes less than a week after President Obama''s pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, Leon Panetta, raised the issue of protecting vital national security interests online during a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Washington  - US President Barack Obama said Monday that in the coming months he will be looking for ways to open direct talks with Iran geared toward developing a "relationship of mutual respect."

Obama cautioned that Tehran's pursuit of nuclear weaponry, support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas and "bellicose" language toward Israel play a negative role in the Middle East.

Washington  - Efforts to tackle global warming will amount to nothing unless the United States and China, the world's largest- polluters, can work out an agreement to cut emissions, according to a report issued by a panel of US-Chinese experts Monday.

Washington  - The United States' economic recovery package overcame a decisive hurdle Monday in the Senate, which voted to close debate on an 827-billion-dollar compromise bill that would be the largest stimulus in US history.

The Senate voted 61-36 to invoke cloture on the legislation, setting the stage for a final vote in the chamber on Tuesday. Only three Republican members supported the compromise bill.