United Nations, Nov 5 (IANS) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday refrained from commenting on US president-elect Barack Obama’s election campaign statements about hot pursuit of terrorists inside Pakistan.

Islamabad, Nov 5 (DPA) Pakistan’s president, premier and opposition leaders Wednesday congratulated US president-elect Barack Obama on his watershed win, saying they were looking forward to promoting peace and stability in the region with his cooperation.

Kabul, Nov 5 (DPA) Barack Obama winning in the US presidential election could be a starting point for a leadership change in Afghanistan, opposition politicians predicted, as many ordinary Afghans welcomed the victory and hoped the new administration could put an end to the country’s decades-long conflict.

Kabul, Nov 5 (Xinhua) Air raids against a suspected hideout of Taliban insurgents in south Afghanistan’s Kandahar province claimed the lives of nearly one dozen civilians, sources said Wednesday.

Islamabad, Nov 5 (Xinhua) Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Wednesday congratulated US president-elect Barack Obama saying his country looked forward to strengthening bilateral ties.

Kabul, Nov 5 (Xinhua) Afghan President Hamid Karzai Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his victory in the US presidential elections and called for change in the strategy on war against terrorism.

Islamabad, Nov 4 (DPA) At least 13 Taliban militants and three security personnel were killed Tuesday in aerial strikes by government forces and attacks by Islamist insurgents in northwest Pakistan, officials and media reports said.

Islamabad, Nov 4 (DPA) Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will request the Saudi leadership to defer payments on oil exports for the next two years to help his country avert a balance of payment crisis when he arrives in the kingdom on an official visit Tuesday, his spokesman said.