As Taliban forces edged to within 60 miles of Islamabad late last month, the Obama administration urgently asked for new intelligence assessments of whether Pakistan’s government would survive. In briefings last week, senior officials said, President Obama and his National Security Council were told…
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As the insurgency spreads in Pakistan, senior U.S. officials say they are increasingly concerned about new vulnerabilities for Pakistan?s arsenal.
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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan on Sunday edged closer to a major conflict with Taliban militants as a controversial peace deal with Islamic extremists in the Swat valley near the Afghan border began to unravel, according to military officials and politicians.
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ABU DHABI: Kamran Akmal hit an aggressive century to overshadow Shane Watson’’s hundred as Pakistan beat Australia by seven wickets in the fifth and final match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Sunday.The 27-year-old wicket-keeper batsman struck an unbeaten 116 and added a Pakistan record of 198 for the fourth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq (76 not out) to help his team chase a challenging 251-run target with three overs to spare.Watson’’s 116 not-out was the cornerstone for Australia’’s 250-4 in 50 overs.Despite the defeat, Australia took the five-match series 3-2 after winning the second match by six wickets, the third by 27 runs and the fourth by eight wickets. Pakistan won the first match by four wickets.Kamran and Misbah got together with Pakistan struggling at 56-3 after 16 overs. They opened up gradually and lifted the quality of batting, which had earlier been mainly to blame for Pakistan’’s defeat in the last three matches.Kamran, who managed 19, eight and one in the last three games, drove and cut beautifully as he took full advantage of a pitch which offered little help to the bowlers.Kamran hit Michael Clarke for his 13th boundary to reach his fifth one-day hundred — each time he has done so, Pakistan have been the winning side. In all, Kamran batted for 115 deliveries.Misbah, whose highest score in the series was 30 in the first match, hit his tenth boundary to bring up the win. He batted for 81 deliveries.The previous best fourth wicket-stand in all Pakistan-Australia one-day matches was 173 made by Australia’’s Dean Jones and Steve Waugh at Perth in 1987.Before the record stand, Pakistan had lost Salman Butt (nought), Younus Khan (27) and Ahmed Shahzad (19).Earlier, Watson hit his second one-day hundred to steer Australia to a competitive total — the highest in this series from both sides.Watson set the platform for the big total, putting stands of 58 for the first wicket with Brad Haddin (36) and another 57 for the third with skipper Clarke (26) after Australia won the toss and batted.Watson, who came to this series after recovering from a stress fracture of his back in November last year, struck six boundaries and two sixes during his 146-ball knock.He also added 84 for the unfinished fifth wicket stand with Calum Ferguson (41 not out) as Australia made 54 runs in the last ten overs.Watson’’s partnership with Haddin gave Australia a brisk start before paceman Shoaib Akhtar separated the two, claiming Haddin caught by Younus off a miscued drive.Haddin hit seven boundaries during his brisk 31-ball knock.Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, whose action was reported illegal after the second match but was played despite the decision, removed Marcus North (five), stumped by wicket-keeper Akmal.Clarke, who hit a brilliant unbeaten 100 in Australia’’s eight-wicket win in the fourth match here on Friday, steadied the innings with Watson before Gul had him caught behind the wicket.It was left to Watson and Ferguson to give the impetus to the innings, taking 54 off the last ten overs.The two teams play a Twenty20 match in Dubai on May 7.
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SWAT: Bodies of two security personnel have been found in Tehsil Khwazakhela while unknown men have set on fire three trucks in Babu Klay. Night curfew has been imposed in Swat from 9 pm Sunday to 6 am Monday, sources said.Beheaded bodies of two security men have been found in Alam Ganj area of Tehsil Khwazakhela, sources added.Shops remained closed in Mingora markets as Taliban patrolled the area.Sources further said that security forces had arrested 5 suspects.Meanwhile, unknown men blew up a government boys school with the help of explosives while armed assailants broke into Mingora Grid Station.Heavy exchange of fire also took place between security forces and militants during which a power transformer was damaged resulting in suspension of electricity in many areas.
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Taliban fighters resumed armed patrols in the Swat Valley’s main town Sunday, an official said, a sign of severe strain on a much-criticized peace deal with the government that imposes Islamic law in part of Pakistan’s northwest.
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Pakistan’s army and the Taliban blamed each other Sunday for a rise in tensions that threatened to destroy a much-criticized peace deal, just days before the Pakistani president heads to Washington for talks with President Barack Obama.
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Kamran Akmal hit an aggressive century to overshadow Shane Watson’s hundred as Pakistan beat Australia by seven wickets in the fifth and final match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Sunday.
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Taliban militants shot dead an Afghan national in Pakistan’s restive northwest tribal belt after accusing him of spying for the United States, a police official said Sunday.
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Pakistan has announced the creation of an Islamic appellate court in its northwest, pushing ahead with a flagging peace deal even as its offensive against Taliban extremists raged on Sunday.
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