Pakistan's Taliban militants say they are willing to talk with the parties expected to form the country's new government, but only if military operations against militants and terrorists end in the tribal regions.

Military and political analysts in Pakistan are expressing growing concern that al-Qaida and Taliban-linked insurgents are now emerging from their traditional strongholds along the border with Afghanistan and are becoming a serious threat to the entire country.

The U.S. military has launched a new "Most Wanted" campaign offering rewards of up to US$200,000 for information leading to the capture of a dozen Taliban and al-Qaida leaders.

The Taliban said today it is ready for talks with the Afghan government, one day after President Hamid Karzai offered negotiations in a bid to end the ongoing insurgency.

Twelve South Koreans have been released by Talibans in three groups throughout wednesday and rest seven is to be released on Thursday.

Taliban militants released eight South Korean hostages on Wednesday, the first of 19 captives scheduled to be freed under a deal struck between the insurgents and the South Korean government.

Two women among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban in mid-July have been freed on a rural roadside and then driven to a U.S. base, the first significant breakthrough in a hostage drama now more than three weeks old.

The Bank of England has issued this news release in respect of the financial measures taken against Al-Qaida and the Taliban.

A Taliban leader taking part in hostage negotiations for the lives of 21 South Koreans said on Saturday that talks are on a "positive track" and that he hopes the captives could be released "today or tomorrow."

German journalist visiting Kunor province was kidnapped by the Tali bans, en route to cover report of Air strike by allied forces killing many civilians.

Taliban had twice extended the deadline for executing the South Koreans hostages, each for 24 hours, until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday. Fresh threat is between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.that the militants would kill "a few" of the hostages.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khursheed Kasur stressed that war on terror “can only be won if hearts and minds are on our side.”