Rebel News - Independent News and Analysis

Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar has met with Pakistan's prime minister as the Islamic republic expands its humanitarian aid to the flood-hit country.

Najjar held talks with Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday afternoon in the premier's office in Islamabad, IRNA reported.

A bomb explosion at a Shia Muslim rally in Pakistan's southwestern region has killed at least 42 people as violence continues to sweep the South-Asian country.

The attack targeted a rally in support of Palestinian struggle against Israel, marking the international Quds day in the city of Quetta, Press TV correspondent reported.

At least one person has been killed and 25 more seriously injured when a powerful blast hit a police station in Tajikistan's northern city of Khujand.

"A car packed with explosives rammed into the right wing of the building at 08:10 a.m. local time (0310 GMT) on Friday," RIA Novosti news agency quoted an unnamed Tajik Interior Ministry spokesman as saying.

Maoists have killed one kidnapped Indian police officer and threaten to kill three other hostages if their demands are not met.

Sub-Inspector Abhay Kumar Yadav was killed at around 4 p.m. local time (1030 GMT) on Thursday, six hours after expiry of Maoists' second deadline of 10 a.m. local time (0430 GMT). The killing took place following a decision by a kangaroo court, the Times of India quoted an unnamed Maoist spokesman as saying.

Gunmen have killed a female teacher and wounded two of her colleagues as the latest targets in a Taliban campaign against education in northwest Pakistan.

A group of unidentified armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire on the tutors, identified as Sultan Zari, Razia Bibi and Rawasia Bibi, at around 12:00 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Thursday as they left for their homes after attending the school in Khar in the restive Bajaur tribal region, TheNation reported.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned a recent US-led airstrike which killed ten civilians, saying aerial bombardment is counterproductive.

"Air bombardments in the villages of Afghanistan will only end up killing civilians and will not be effective in the fight against terrorism," the Afghan presidential palace quoted Karzai as saying.

The death toll from a triple bombing at a Shia Muslim gathering in eastern Pakistani city of Lahore has risen to 37 after many passed away in various hospitals.

Earlier reports said at least 28 people were killed after three bombs went off in quick succession during a crowded mourning procession in the Karbala Gamay Shah district of Lahore on Wednesday.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrives in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on a surprise visit, as foreign forces experience their deadliest year since the 2001 invasion.

He is expected to meet President Hamid Karzai, as well as the commander of US-led forces in Afghanistan, US General David Petraeus.

US-led forces in Afghanistan have killed at least 16 civilians over the past 24 hours, amid growing public rage over such attacks.

Ten civilians have been killed in a NATO airstrike in the northern Takhar province. The victims were reportedly election campaign workers.

Afghanistan police say at least three rockets have targeted the Afghan capital city of Kabul while the country is still suffering from the 2001 US-led invasion.

The rocket attacks had no casualties, but caused some damage, a Press TV correspondent reported on Thursday.