WASHINGTON (March 13, 2010): US lawmakers urged the Obama administration on Thursday to focus more attention on Lashkar-e-Taiba militants and push Islamabad harder to rein in the Pakistan-based group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. "This group of savages needs to be crushed," said Gary Ackerman, chairman of the House of Representatives subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.

UNITED NATIONS (March 13, 2010): UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the spate of deadly bombings in Lahore, his spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement. The UN "reiterates that no cause can justify such inhuman incidents after twin suicide attacks killed up to 45 people.

NEW DELHI (March 13, 2010): Pakistan needs to "reinvent" itself as a genuine democracy and a responsible neighbour, India's Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Friday. Addressing a seminar on South Asian security, Chidambaram urged Islamabad to do more to curb militancy and warned that India would respond "swiftly and decisively" in the event of any attack deemed to be from Pakistan.

NEW DELHI (March 13, 2010): Shahid Malik, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Friday while strongly refuting Indian Home Minister Chidambaram's accusation against Pakistan on its alleged involvement in the terror activities against India, said Pakistan was a responsible state and would not allow its territory to be used by anyone for such acts.

LAHORE (March 13, 2010): US Consul General in Lahore, Carmela Conroy, has said that reconstruction in Afghanistan under the US and Nato is making an impact on Afghan society, as more Afghan children are being enrolled in schools and women have been availing opportunities to work outside their homes.

ISLAMABAD (March 13, 2010): Veteran Kash-miri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has reiterated that a just solution of the Kashmir dispute can only be possible by implementing the United Nations resolutions. The veteran leader while addressing a mammoth gathering in Sopore town Friday said that India had occupied Jammu and Kashmir illegally and against the wishes of the Kashmiri people, KMS reported.

KARACHI (March 13, 2010): Pakistan Navy Fleet on Friday tested its fire power in the North Arabian Sea to assess the lethality, precision and efficacy of its weapon systems. This was announced in an ISPR (Navy) press release issued here on Friday. It said Admiral Noman Bashir, Chief of the Naval Staff, witnessed the event. This included successful firing of a variety of missiles and torpedoes from PN ships, submarines and aircraft.

ISLAMABAD (March 13, 2010): Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here at the PM's House Friday afternoon. During the meeting, security situation in the country was discussed.

KARACHI (March 13, 2010): Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed, the Colonel Commandant, visited the Sindh Regimental Centre in Hyderabad on Friday. This was announced in a press release of the ISPR issued here on Friday.

ISLAMABAD (March 13, 2010): President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday appointed seven additional judges in the Peshawar High Court, for a period of one year, with effect from the date they make the oath of their offices. Following are the names of newly appointed additional judges of PHC: