New Delhi - Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the Mumbai attack suspects should be prosecuted and tried in Pakistan and not handed over to India, media reports said Wednesday.

Miliband, who is in India on a three-day visit, differed from New Delhi's demand that Pakistan extradite accused perpetrators of the attacks to stand trial in India.

Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours have deteriorated rapidly since the November 26 attacks left 173 people including 26 foreign nationals dead.

Islamabad - Pakistan on Wednesday temporarily closed a vital supply route for Western troops in landlocked Afghanistan, officials said.

Traffic on the passage running through Pakistan's restive Khyber tribal district was halted by security forces in the early morning as they continued a sweep to clear the area of Taliban militants launching regular attacks on trucks carrying NATO supplies.

"Hundreds of security personnel are taking part in the operation which will be hopefully completed in the next 48 hours," said Amirzada Khan, a government official in Khyber.

Islamabad, Jan. 14 : Sensing the need of strengthening its air defence amidst high tension, and rising war fears with India, Pakistan has asked the United States for an early delivery of F-16 fighter jets.

Pakistan Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar has urged the United States to help Pakistan meet its security requirements, including the provision of F-16 aircraft, The Daily Times reported.

Mukhtar met US Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W Patterson, and informed her about Pak's military requirements.

"The Minister informed the US envoy about the defence requirements of Pakistan particularly the provision of F-16 aircraft," a statement issued by the Pakistan Defence Ministry said.

Lahore, Jan 14 : Former Pakistan Test batsman Mohammad Yousuf has again launched a stinging attack on the current skipper Shoaib Malik and the selectors for not treating him with enough respect.

He again called into question Malik's qualifications for the captaincy.

"Tell me on what grounds did they decide I was not fit for Twenty20 cricket? What were the criteria for deciding this?" Yousuf asked.

"Tell me how did Malik deserve to be the captain? How can you make a player a captain who is not certain of a place in the national Test or one-day team."

Lahore, Jan. 14 : In an apparent damage control exercise after the sacking of the National Security Advisor, Mehmood Ali Durrani, the Pakistan government is seriously thinking of doing away with the post in the country.

"The government is considering abolishing the post of adviser to the Prime Minister on national security after the sacking of Mehmood Ali Durrani," the Daily Times quoted a private television channel, as saying.

"Although several names are circulating as potential contenders for the office, the government may just do away with the post altogether," the channel said.