Obama convenes 'situation room meeting' focusing on Pakistan

Washington, Oct.7 (ANI): Concerned over the increasing clout of Al-Qaeda and Taliban even after putting in place a revamped AFPAK strategy, US President Barack Obama will convene a 'situation room meeting' on Pakistan with his top aides on Thursday.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the meeting would primarily focus on Pakistan as the Obama administration believes that it is very necessary to have an apt strategy for Pakistan in view of the fact that top Al-Qaeda and Taliban commanders have taken refuge in the lawless tribal region of that country.

The meeting would be attended by Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and Central Command Commander, General David Petraeus, The Nation reports.

When enquiries were made about the agenda of the meeting, Gibbs pointed out that most of the 9/11 masterminds have now shifted to Pakistan, so the focus of the meeting would be Pakistan.

"I don't have the agenda with me. This one is going to focus on Pakistan, but without getting into detail, yes, the President was and many that were staffing the meeting understood what needed to be prepared for this one," he said.

"The group of people that attacked us through Al-Qaeda on 9/11 and is planning through intent, actively planning and intending to try to attack us ... mostly are now (based) in the country of Pakistan," Gibbs added. (ANI)