Zardari vows to defeat militancy on Pak's western border

Islamabad, Feb. 10 (ANI): President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the federal government is fully committed to defeating militancy in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and in parts of the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP).

"Government would provide all resources to tackle terrorism and extremism," Zardari told the country's Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, on Monday.

The Nation quoted Zardari as saying: "If Taliban continued abduction and killing of innocent people, then the government would have no other option but to use force."

The government would make sure that weapons and other security needs of the Armed Forces were met adequately, he added.

General Kayani briefed Zardari about his visit to the tribal areas and the armed forces new strategy to combat militancy in the tribal belt, sources disclosed.

Zardari also spoke with Prime Minister Gilani and reportedly shared notes on their proposed meetings with President Obama's Special Representative to Pakistan and Afghanista, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke.

Sources said both leaders decided to take up the issue of US drone attacks in the restive tribal areas with Holbrooke.

The volatile situation in the Swat Valley and FATA also came up for discussion. Both leaders reportedly expressed a resolve to root out terrorism. (ANI)