Pakistani troops attempted to clear a women’s religious school after seizing Islamabad’s Red Mosque in fierce fighting that left at least 40 militants and three soldiers dead.

An Islamic rebel group in Indian-controlled Kashmir has today condemned the award of a knighthood to author Salman Rushdie and called for a protest strike in the region.

Pakistan today condemned Britain’s award of a knighthood to author Salman Rushdie as an affront to Muslim sentiments, and a Cabinet minister said the honour provided a justification for suicide attacks.