Legend has it that seven revered Islamic saints whose shrines are located across Karachi have for centuries protected the southwestern Pakistani city from disaster.

The `dark side` of US counter-terrorism took center stage Wednesday in the case of a mentally ill Pakistani woman accused of attacking US officers in Afghanistan.

A New York federal judge referred to allegations that the accused, Aafia Siddiqui, was abducted and tortured by US or allied forces prior to her extradition from Afghanistan in August.

A US judge on Wednesday ordered further psychiatric evaluation for a Pakistani woman he says is mentally incompetent to stand trial on charges of attempted murder of US officers in Afghanistan.

Judge Richard Berman told the federal court in New York that Aafia Siddiqui, a US-educated neuroscientist extradited in August from Afghanistan, is `not currently competent to proceed.`

Pakistan`s army chief vowed Wednesday to keep NATO`s supply line to Afghanistan open and reaffirmed support for the military alliance`s mission there, a senior NATO officer said.

A major Arab Al-Qaeda operative was among six militants killed overnight in a suspected US missile strike in northwest Pakistan, a senior security official told AFP Wednesday.

Security sources identified the militant as Abdullah Azam al-Saudi, a senior member of Osama bin Laden`s terror network.

A major Arab Al-Qaeda operative was among six militants killed overnight in a suspected US missile strike in northwest Pakistan, a senior security official told AFP Wednesday.

A major Arab Al-Qaeda operative was among six militants killed overnight in a suspected US missile strike in northwest Pakistan, a senior security official told AFP Wednesday.

A Major Al-Qaeda operative of Arab origin was among the five militants killed in a suspected US missile strike in northwest Pakistan, a senior security official told AFP Wednesday.

Security sources identified the Al-Qaeda militant as Abdullah Azam Al-Saudi, a senior member in Osama bin Laden`s terror network.

A Major Al-Qaeda operative of Arab origin was among the five militants killed in a suspected US missile strike in northwest Pakistan, a senior security official told AFP Wednesday.

Security sources identified the Al-Qaeda militant as Abdullah Azam Al-Saudi, a senior member in Osama bin Laden`s terror network.

A missile strike by a suspected US drone killed at least five people including foreigners in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border, security officials said Wednesday.

The attack marked the first US missile strike outside of the rugged tribal regions which have become safe havens for militants linked to Taliban and Al-Qaeda, one Pakistani security official said.