London, Apr 10: The 10 Pakistani nationals arrested in the United Kingdom for planning to carry out terror strikes in the country may have exploited the shortcomings in the visa regime as described by a British minister as “the major loophole in Britain’s border controls.”

New Delhi, Apr 9: Chinese scholars have rebutted US’ allegations that China was engaged in spying and forging secret nuclear deals with foreign countries, saying these were induced by the perceived “China threat” worrying Washington.

“More accusations are being made nowadays, probably because the military contractors are fighting against a fundamental defense budget now proposed by the US defense chief,” said Beijing-based military expert Song Xiaojun.

New Delhi, Apr. 8: President Barack Obama’s Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke has said that the US could not mediate between Pakistan and India, and that the two neighbouring countries would have to solve their long impending issues between themselves bilaterally.

Addressing media persons in Islamabad before emplaning for New Delhi, Holbrooke said: “Washington cannot negotiate between the two countries, they should normalise mutual ties.”

Terming the November 2006 Mumbai terror attack as ‘strategic terrorism’, he said the strikes were an attempt to destabilize both countries.

New Delhi, Apr 8: United States Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke met Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) chief mentor Tarun Das here on Wednesday.

The Chairman of the U. S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, was also present.

The meeting assumed significance in view of the top US officials huddling with India strategy group of CII over Indo-US cooperation in reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Holbrooke, along with Mullen, are expected to meet Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan later in the day.

Beijing, Apr. 8: China has asked the United Nations to respond prudently to the Democratic People''s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) rocket launch, even as the UN Security Council have scheduled a second meeting to discuss what sanctions, if any, can be imposed on that country.

“China is always careful about imposing sanctions. We believe the response of the Security Council should be conducive to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia as well as the Six-Party Talks," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.

Miranshah (Pakistan), Apr. 7: The Taliban has threatened the United States that it will be made to “pay heavily for destabilizing” Pakistan by launching drone attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

“The US will pay 10 times for the drone attacks in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas,” Taliban leadership in North Waziristan said in a statement on Monday.

It, however, said the drone attacks would not affect the peace agreement with the Pakistan Government.