Taliban tries to overthrow Pak Govt: Gates

Washington, May 21: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said that Tehrek-e-Taliban is not only trying to overthrow the government of Pakistan, but is also launching attack against other countries.

“What we have seen here is yet another new phenomenon, and that is the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan not only trying to overthrow the government of Islamabad, in Islamabad, but also launch attacks outside Pakistan and, in this case, against us," said Mr. Gates at a Pentagon news briefing.

“I think that when the Pakistani Taliban approached Islamabad a year and a half ago, or whenever it was, was a wake—up call for the Pakistanis that this group was an existential danger for the government of Pakistan itself," he said.

“We now have a mutual interest in trying to stop this group, stop it from carrying out attacks inside Pakistan, stop it from carrying out attacks outside of Pakistan, and especially in the United States," he added.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, who also appeared for the news conference, praised the antiterrorism fights and measures being taken by the Pak Army. “With respect to North Waziristan and my engagement with General (Asfaq Parvez) Kayani: Well over a year ago, he"d indicated that there are plans to execute that mission. But very specifically, the timeline is really up to him and it goes back to what I understand and believe, that he"s stretched," Mullen said.

OneIndia News