Washington  - The International Monetary Fund on Monday approved a 7.6-billion-dollar loan for Pakistan designed to help it stabilize its economy and expand its social safety net.

"By providing large financial support to Pakistan, the IMF is sending a strong signal to the donor community about the country's improved macroeconomic prospects," IMF Deputy Managing Director Takatoshi Kato said in a statement.

Islamabad  - At least 23 people, including 20 militants, were killed in overnight attacks by Islamist insurgents amid security operations by government forces in north-west Pakistan, officials and media reports said Monday.

Helicopter gunships and artillery pounded several positions of militants in the restive Swat district, where troops are fighting followers of radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, who wants to enforce Taliban-style rule in the region.

"According to preliminary information, more than 15 insurgents have died and half a dozen sustained injuries in the security action," a local military official said.

Islamabad - At least 13 people, including a female councillor and a policeman, were killed in attacks by Taliban militants and security operations by government forces on Monday in north-west Pakistan, officials and media reports said.

Helicopter gunships and artillery pounded several positions of militants in restive Swat district, where the troops are fighting the followers of a radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, who wants to enforce Taliban-style rule in the region.

Dhabi, Nov. 24, 2008 -- Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari, arrived here this afternoon on a two-day official visit to the UAE.

President H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan received President Zardari and his entourage on arrival here at the airport.

Islamabad, Nov. 24: Rashid Rauf, the British al-Qaeda suspect reportedly killed by a US missile strike in a Pakistani tribal area on Saturday, was linked to the group''s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The Telegraph quoted Pakistani government and intelligence officials as saying that the US believed that Rauf was staying with a group connected to Zawahiri. Zawahiri is believed by American officials to operate from Pakistan''s lawless, tribal border areas.

Amritsar, Nov 24 : Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta looks forward to addressing various security related aspects during the Home Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan which begin in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Gupta is leading the India delegation at the talks.

Speaking to reporters here on his way to Pakistan, he said New Delhi expects proactive cooperation from Islamabad in dealing with security matters.