Pak's 'survival' depends on eliminating Taliban: Zardari

Islamabad, Feb.14 (ANI): The Taliban's increasing influence in the tribal areas, and reports about it planning to take over some of the major cities like Islamabad, Peshwar, and Lahore has now drawn fear lines on the foreheads of the Pakistani leadership, which has long denied the presence of militants on their soil.

Addressing a meeting jointly presided by the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari said the Taliban is aiming to impose their political agenda on Pakistani citizens, and the fight against the Taliban was about Pakistan's own 'survival.'

Zardari also admitted that the Taliban is trying to establish a parallel government in the country, and it has no alternative other than the ongoing military offensive to thwart the efforts of the insurgents.

He vowed to flush out militancy completely from Pakistani soil, saying the authorities would take all steps needed to curb the rising insurgency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and the Swat Valley.

"It is indispensable to halt rising influence of Taliban by using force as they desire to change our living style," The Nation quoted Zardari, as saying.

According to sources Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt.Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha also briefed Zardari, Gilani, and other top officials about the steps taken to curb the terrorist activities, during the meeting.

"He gave a detailed briefing on the current situation in Swat and FATA and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to restore normalcy in the troubled areas," sources said.

All the leaders vowed to fight militancy cohesively, and continue fighting until the Taliban had been removed and government's writ had been restored in the troubled areas, sources added. (ANI)