Pentagon praises Pakistans achievement in anti-militant operations

Pakistan

Pentagon praises Pakistans achievement in anti-militant operations

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02 October,2009 05:24 am

Appreciating the great progress Pakistan has achieved in its recent anti-militant operations, the Pentagon acknowledged Pakistan militarys ability to sustain pressure against extremist groups along the Afghan border over several months. We have seen great progress by the Pakistani military over the past several months you know, nearly a year now, probably. And we are pleased with that progress, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said at a briefing. The issue had always been the willingness, the ability of the Pakistani military to sustain their operations, to sustain the pressure they need to put on the terrorist and extremist groups in their midst. And I think they have shown over the past several months the ability to sustain pressure on those groups. And thats key to our success in Afghanistan, he stated, responding a question that suggested that Pakistan was perhaps not doing enough. The spokesmans comments came in the backdrop of unprecedented consensus that Pakistani political forces, civil society forged in backing a military offensive against Taliban militants in Swat and other northwestern valleys of Malakand region. The Pakistani military has cleared the area of militants after months of sustained and effective actions. At the briefing, Morrell also touched on the problem of cross-border movement by militants in the historical context and said the US and its allies need Pakistans pressure against militants on its side of the porous Afghan border.