New Delhi, Nov 20 Pakistan was using "terror as an instrument of state policy" and the US must use "all its influence" to get it to desist from that path, says Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of his visit to Washington.

"We have been the victims of Pakistan-aided, -abetted and -inspired terrorism for nearly 25 years. We would like the United States to use all its influence with Pakistan to desist from that path," Manmohan Singh in an interview to the Washington Post.

Islamabad, Nov. 20 : At least eight persons were killed in a suspected US drone attack in North Waziristan on Friday.

According to reports, two missiles were fired from an unmanned Predator aircraft targeting a vehicle near the Mir Ali town, which is considered a den of Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

"Eight people have been killed," The Nation quoted an intelligence official in the region, as saying.

Islamabad, Nov 20 - Eight people were killed in a suspected US drone strike in northwestern Pakistan's tribal area, officials said Friday.

The unmanned aircraft fired two missiles on a house at Mir Ali tehsil in North Waziristan tribal agency near the Afghan border, officials said.

On Thursday, another drone attack killed at least four people and injured five in North Waziristan.

Washington says insurgent fighters are hiding in the area and planning attacks on Western troops stationed in neighbouring Afghanistan. (IANS)

Karachi, Nov. 20 : Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has said there is slim possibility of controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar returning to international cricket.

“Shoaib is already 34, and with a history of fitness problems, is unlikely to make a comeback,” a website reported Butt as saying in response to a query whether the recent liposuction surgery would enhance the right-arm pacer’s changes of a comeback for the forthcoming Australia tour.

Washington, Nov 20 - Noting that a "cross border fertilisation of terrorism" is preventing both Pakistan and Afghanistan to defeat the forces threatening them, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wants the two countries to work together to defeat terrorism.

"We know that there is a cross-border fertilisation of extremism and terrorism," Clinton who was in Afghanistan for the inauguration of President Hamid Karzai's second term told the local Azadi Radio in an interview.

Rawalpindi, Nov. 20 : Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has denied reports about correspondencing with a Washington Post journalist.

According to reports, Dr. Khan submitted a statement to the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench through his lawyer Ali Zafar, in which he denied interaction with any foreign journalists.

It may be noted that Khan had sensationally revealed that China had provided weapons-grade uranium, sufficient for making two atomic bombs, to Pakistan in 1982.

Islamabad  - A roadside bomb early on Friday killed three police officers and wounded six more in Pakistan's troubled north-western city of Peshawar, police said.

The casualties occurred when a police vehicle on patrol was hit by a remote-controlled bomb in the city's Yakka Toot neighbourhood.

"Two policemen died at the scene while one more died in the hospital," local police officer Abdul Qadir said.

Rawalpindi, Nov. 20 : The Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Rawalpindi bench has asked the government to reach an out-of-court settlement with nuclear scientist Dr. A Q Khan with regard to his security.

Hearing an intra-court appeal by the federal government on restoring Khan’s security protocol, the court observed that it would be in the national interest to resolve the issue amicably, failing which it would take a decision on November 23.

Lahore, Nov. 20 : Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has reportedly funnelled a large amount of money to his former aides in the country in order to improve his image, as he is planning a return to the country’s political scene.

According to an Asia Times Online report, Musharraf is planning to flaunt a new political party and has recently “funnelled large sums of money into the coffers of former aides to promote his cause”.

Karachi, Nov 19 : Less than a week after withdrawing from the ongoing tour of New Zealand, Younis Khan indicated that he would be available for the series against Australia that will begin with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Younis, Pakistan's regular captain, also announced that he would soon be appearing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - Pakistan's premier first-class cricket tournament - to regain his form that deserted him in the Champions Trophy in South Africa and a three-match one-day series against New Zealand earlier this month.

Karachi, Nov 19 : Pakistan's cricket chief Ijaz Butt has ruled out the return of controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar to international cricket.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman said Shoaib is already 34 and with a history of fitness problems is unlikely to make a comeback.

Butt was responding to a query whether Shoaib's decision to undergo liposuction would boost his chances of a comeback for the Australia tour next month.

Butt said Pakistan has a number of young fast bowlers to choose from and that makes Shoaib's chances of a comeback "very remote".

Karachi, Nov 19 : Eminent Pakistani cricket umpire Aleem Dar Thursday said the new umpire referral system will help minimise errors.

The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in which each side is allowed two unsuccessful challenges per innings in a system similar to that used in American football and tennis will be used for the first time in the Test series between New Zealand and Pakistan, starting Nov 24 in Dunedin.

The decision was made after a Dunedin-based company agreed to supply the ball-tracking technology.

Lahore, Nov. 19 : The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) depleting bank account is set to get a boost through a 12.5 million dollar compensation for not hosting 14 matches of the 2011-World Cup because of security concerns.

According to sources, the PCB and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have mutually agreed to settle the World Cup hosting issues.

Who provided logistic support to Sayeed Amir Ali (38), the suspected Pakistani spy, during his stay in the state capital? On whose reference Ali stayed at a hotel after landing in the city?

The UP Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has launched a hunt for the modules of the Pakistan intelligence agency – ISI who provided all assistance to Ali from behind the scene. Each month a fixed amount was transferred to his account number- 145246 at Hazratganj branch of Bank of Baroda.

Islamabad, Nov. 19 : Pakistan’s Awami National Party (ANP) has proposed to change the country’s name from the ‘Islamic Republic of Pakistan’ to the ‘People’s Republic of Pakistan’.

According to a private television channel, the ANP proposed the change in the country’s name during a meeting of the Parliamentary Reforms Committee, which was supported by both the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).

Lahore, Nov. 19 : President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani have different opinions regarding threats emanating from India, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab has said.

"There is a difference of views between the president and the COAS when it comes to `threat perception' from India," The Daily Times quoted Wahab, as saying.

Peshawar, Nov. 19 : At least 15 were reportedly killed and 22 others injured in a powerful explosion outside a court building in Peshawar on Thursday morning.

According to security officials, the blast occurred near the main entrance of the judicial complex, which is situated on Khyber Road.

Police have cordoned-off the area and injured have been admitted to the Lady Reading Hospital here.

Eyewitnesses said the blast occurred in a car parked adjacent to the building. However, unconfirmed reports said it was a suicide attack.

Peshawar, Nov 19 - An explosion took place Thursday outside a court in this city in northwestern Pakistan, a media report said.

A large number of lawyers were present in the court when blast took place near the main gate of the judicial complex at Khyber Road, Geo News reported.

Eyewitnesses said the blast occurred in a car. Further details were awaited. (IANS)

Islamabad  - A suspected US missile strike in Pakistan's troubled North Waziristan tribal district killed at least four militants and wounded five others, an official said on Thursday.

Two missiles believed to have been fired by a US-operated Predator drone flattened a compound in the Humzoni area, located some 15 kilometers from the region's main town of Miranshah.

"The midnight [on Wednesday] attack left four militants dead," an intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. Five more suffered injuries in the explosions.

Islamabad, Nov. 19 : Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has challenged media reports that claim that SwatTaliban commander Mullah Fazlullah is alive and has sneaked into Afghanistan.

Addressing a function at the police lines here, Malik said: “In case the Afghan Government knows where Fazlullah is hiding, they should apprehend and hand him over to Pakistan.”

The BBC’s Urdu service had reported that Fazlullah had called them and said that he has safely crossed over to Afghanistan.