Pakistan would not be 'prodded into any military action by outsiders': Qureshi

Islamabad, Nov.17 (ANI): A day after the Obama administration warned Islamabad not to 'undercut' its fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and urged it to expand its fight against the banned organisations, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Pakistan recognises the threat, but it would not be 'prodded into any military action by outsiders'.

"We will not do anything, more or less, at the prodding of others. We will see what are Pakistan's requirements and priorities," Qureshi told media persons here.

Qureshi said both the US and Pakistan shared a common goal of defeating the Taliban and al-Qaeda, but any action against them would be taken only after consulting the Army, The Daily Times reports.

Earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit admitted that US National Security Adviser, Lt. Gen. James L. Jones, had visited Islamabad to reiterate the Obama administration's latest message.

According to a New York Times report, the new American strategy would work only if Pakistan broadened its fight beyond the militants attacking its cities and security forces and went after the groups that use havens in Pakistan for plotting and carrying out attacks against American troops in Afghanistan, as well as support networks for Al Qaeda.

Pakistani officials have told the Americans that they harbor two deep fears about Obama's new strategy: that the United States will add too many troops on the Afghan side of the border, and that the American effort will end too soon, the report said. (ANI)