National Command Authority volunteers to join the group if country is recognised as nuclear weapons state.

Meetings between military, intelligence officials aim to salvage relations.

Counter-terrorism official sounded alarm on growing level of coordination among two dozen or so extremist groups.

Military’s top brass wants to redeploy soldiers to other areas, officials say .

Officials downplay skirmish, insist it is not a ‘planned operation’.

Signs of growing friction within the terror group more apparent.

Parties have indicated to work jointly for minimum ‘common agenda’.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman says Sharifs main obstacle in creation of a opposition alliance.

Party leader­s say Punjab CM will soon establ­ish ‘direct contac­t’ with MQM hierar­chy.

Govern­ment decide­s to retain federa­l minist­ers despit­e devolv­ing minist­ries.