Swat offensive to continue until 'normalcy' returns to valley: Zardari

Washington May 8 (ANI): Visiting Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said the military operation in the North West Frontier Province's Swat Valley would continue until the Taliban and other extremist groups are completely flushed out, and 'normalcy' returns to the troubled region.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai and US Senator John Kerry here, Zardari said: "It is going to carry on until life in Swat comes back to normalcy."

Zardari's statement came after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani declared an all out war against the Taliban in restive Swat and Malakand Divisions of the NWFP.

"It's a regional problem, it's a worldwide problem. I think the world is coming to that realization," Zardari added.

While questioning Pakistan and Afghanistan's seriousness to counter the Taliban threat, Senator John Kerry, on the occasion, said the United States wants to resolve the crisis but added that the fight against insurgency is Pakistan and Afghanistan's 'own war'. (ANI)