Pak not to wilt under US pressure to launch offensive in North Waziristan

Islamabad, May 13 (ANI): Pakistan has apparently made it clear that it would not succumb under intense US pressure to launch an offensive in North Waziristan, the stronghold of the Taliban.

The decision was taken after President Asif Ali Zardari held separate meetings with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to discuss national and international issues.

In the wake of the failed Times Square bombing plot, the Obama Administration has been piling up pressure on Pakistan to launch a military operation in North Waziristan, saying there are indications that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had played a major role in the terror plot.

According to a statement released after the meetings, both the political and military leadership resolved not to accept any pressure from Washington to start an operation against extremists, who are based in North Waziristan and threatening the whole world, including the US.

"Matters relating to current security situation in the country and professional preparedness of the Armed Forces were discussed during the meeting," The Nation quoted an official's handout released after General Kayani's meeting with Zardari, as saying.

Sources privy to the meetings said that the situation arising after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's blunt warning was also discussed.

It may be noted that Clinton, during a television interview, had warned Islamabad of 'dire consequences' if Pakistan based terrorists succeeded in attacking the United States.

During the CBS' 60 minute, Clinton said that though Pakistan's attitude towards Islamic terrorism had changed in the recent past, it still needed to take far more stringent measures to quell militancy emanating from its soil.

"We've made it very clear that if, heaven-forbid, an attack like this that we can trace back to Pakistan were to have been successful, there would be very severe consequences," she had warned. (ANI)