US watching strategy to root out militants

Washington, Jan.18 : The United States will continue to monitor Pakistan's strategy for dealing with militants in the tribal area, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters, adding that the strategy devised in 2006, was aimed at rooting out militants in Waziristan and trying to integrate those regions into Pakistan.

The strategy also aims to give more freedom to tribal elders to deal with militants, allowing them to make their own arrangements with the extremists if they agree to give up militancy, the Dawn reports.

"I think after some time he's (President Musharraf) taken a look at that plan and decided that it needs a second look. And, as they develop and refine their strategies, we're going to of course refine our strategies along with them," McCormack was quoted, as saying.

We have a strategy that we continually review with respect to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, which includes North and South Waziristan. So, it's something that is occupying quite a bit of our time at the State Department, Department of Defence as well as the White House. So, we know it's an important issue. It's an important issue for Pakistan as well and Pakistan's future," he said.

ANI