Islamabad, Apr 28 : Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif has urged British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to use his influence to make the US shun its policy of drone strikes in the Tribal Areas.

The appeal came at a meeting between Sharif and Brown who had called on the PML-N chief at Punjab House.

At the 40-minute meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on several issues of mutual interest.

Sharif said that the drone attacks were compounding anti-American sentiments in Pakistan, and such strikes would be counter-productive in the long run.

Lahore, Apr 28 : A campaign is already afoot to boycott the purchase of Swat's famous emeralds, because the money could be used to buy mortars, roadside bombs and suicide belts for the Taliban.

The "blood emeralds" have joined the Afghan opium as a source of Taliban lucre.

Swat is rich in orchards, timber - and gems. The Taliban have seized two of the emerald mines, declared them a trust and are mining them round the clock.

Mumbai, Apr. 28 : India will get the lion’s share of the 2011 World Cup matches, given the unstable and precarious security and political situation in the three other host countries – Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Addressing a press conference here, International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Haroon Lorgat said that India will host 29 matches in eight venues, Sri Lanka would host 12 matches in three venues and Bnagladesh would host eight matches in two venues, adding that in all, 49 matches would be played at 13 venues in three countries.

Islamabad, Apr 28 : Pakistan's Minister for Interior Affairs Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that nearly 450 militants were reportedly holed up in Buner and security forces killed 70 militants in Lower Dir.

Talking to journalists outside the Parliament, Malik said the government would take strict action against the miscreants.

He said that at least 70 militants had been killed in Dir operation so far while 450 others were still present in Buner.

Kabul, Apr 28 : Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has asked US officials not to panic over Taliban advances along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

Qureshi said Pakistan had sent terrorists in its tribal areas a `clear signal' that they must lay down arms, as he sought to quell Western fears raised by a recent peace deal between the government and the Taliban in Swat.

Peshawar, Apr 28 : Exactly 56 percent of the respondents polled have described Afghanistan's Taliban as "Islamic heroes fighting western occupation."

In a survey conducted by Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP) with the help of the British High Commission in Islamabad, a paltry 12.1 percent called them "a terrorist group", the Daily Times reports.

Over 54 percent respondents said they were "dissatisfied with life" in FATA in general.