The Pakistani authorities may release Gary Brooks Faulkner, a US national arrested in a remote area of Pakistan this week, officials said on Friday, reports our Pakistan correspondent.

The retention of an essential nuclear capability is a “compulsion” for Pakistan because of the growing imbalance created by India’s massive military build-up and “assertive posturing”, a top Pakistani

Pakistan is expected to seek the firming up of confidence-building measures during the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks with India to pave the way for progress in addressing long-standing issues like Kashmir, diplomatic sources said on Thursday.

The Taliban shot dead an alleged murderer before a large gathering in the restive North Waziristan tribal region, the second such public execution this month by militants in northwest Pakistan.

More than 35 Pakistani soldiers are missing after a fierce attack by the Afghan Taliban on a border checkpost in the tribal belt and militants have claimed they are holding 10 soldiers hostage.

At least 18 people — including 14 militants — were killed on Wednesday in clashes between the security forces and the Taliban rebels, officials said.

Pakistan has dived headlong into the Afghanistan reconciliation process by taking on the task of acting as a bridge between the Haqqani network and the government in Kabul, Dawn has learnt.

In the first such instance, a private American citizen who claimed he was hunting for Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and wanted to “decapitate” him has been arrested by the Pakistani authorities, officials said Tuesday.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday dismissed a petition against US drone attacks inside Pakistan, reports our Pakistan correspondent.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has been shown as a US citizen by a prominent American website.