Washington, Oct 31: Pakistani Ambassador to the US has questioned as to why foreign governments can bail out banks in their own countries but ignore the economic meltdown in Pakistan where a financial collapse could encourage extremists and undermine the global war against terrorism.

Haqqani told the World Affairs Council this week that “ Pakistan needs the support of the international community in rebuilding its economy and providing hope to its people, because hope is what will help country’s elected government to defeat the extremists and terrorists that pose a threat to the future of all of us.”

Islamabad - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday concluded the first round of technical talks in Dubai with Pakistani officials about creating a system to save the south Asian nation from economic collapse, officials said.

Pakistan's government is facing a tightening balance of payments. Its financing gap stands at around 7 billion dollars for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2009.

Islamabad - At least 10 Taliban militants and one civilian were killed Thursday as Pakistani army helicopter gunships and artillery pounded militant positions in the country's north-western Swat valley, officials said.

"Our forces targeted insurgent locations in Sarsinai and Kotlai villages of Kabal sub-district," said an senior army official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Ten miscreants were killed and one was injured. We destroyed their one weapons depot but there was no loss on our side," he added.

Ankara - Pakistan and Afghanistan leaders on Thursday reiterated their pledges to cooperate towards promoting peace, security, stability and economic development in the region.

Islamabad - Rescue workers on Thursday fanned out in south-western Pakistan, distributing relief supplies among thousands of earthquake survivors as the authorities said the death toll might climb to as much as 300.

Many isolated hamlets remained inaccessible as hungry, distraught women, children and elders waited for aid while spending a second freezing night in the open.

Islamabad- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday it planned to provide food assistance to nearly 20,000 people left homeless by the deadly earthquake that struck Pakistan's north-western Balochistan province a day ago.

"We need to move fast, so we are going to start distributing food stocks from our warehouses in Quetta and Peshawar, so we can reach the people who need it most," said WFP Pakistan Country Director Wolfgang Herbinger, in a statement.

He added that the organization would be coordinating its response with the government and other UN agencies.