PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 28 (UPI) -- Terrorists struck Pakistan again Thursday, killing and injuring dozens in two attacks in Peshawar a day after their mayhem in Lahore left a far bigger toll.

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 28 (UPI) -- Clashes between coalition troops and Taliban rebels in Afghanistan's Paktika province killed nearly three dozen militants, the local government said Thursday.

2009 a turning point for Afghanistan; Al-Qaida strong in Helmand province; Iran expects more trilateral AFPAK meetings; Sunni groups grow weary with Baghdad; Diyala government resumes operations; EU, Iraq move on formal ties

WASHINGTON, May 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department is considering changing tactics and deploying specialized troops to battle the Taliban in Afghanistan, a military source said.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 26 (UPI) -- A peace gesture by Taliban militants being pounded by the Pakistani army in the country's northwest has been rejected, the military said.

Gates redefines military doctrine; Iran hosts AFPAK meeting; Use of human shields rising, U.S. says; Minority Iraqis underrepresented; Dirty games mire Kurdish questions; KRG inhibits democracy, groups claim

TEHRAN, May 26 (UPI) -- Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani continued to lash out at U.S. policy, saying neither Hamas nor Hezbollah were terrorist organizations.

WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- A worldwide slump is creating havoc with what President Obama’s critics call his “democratic social agenda” that will Europeanize the American economy. Saddled with Iraq and Afghanistan, and still growing unemployment at home, Obama has little room to maneuver.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 25 (UPI) -- Pakistan is having to contend with throngs of displaced people while its army successfully battles militants in its northwestern region, officials say.