Updated on
Summary
US Department of Defense expressed anticipation that Pakistan would launch an offensive against militants in North Waziristan. The US however wants Pakistan to decide the time for the operation. US President Barrack Obama dispatched White House National Security Adviser Jim Jones and CIA Director Leon Panetta to Pakistan earlier this week in an attempt to pursue the Pakistani authorities to launch an offensive against Islamist militants hiding in North Waziristan. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates hinted during a press conference in Washington that the American authorities are considering options to enhance cooperation between the two countries to tackle the threat of terrorism faced by both the countries. Gates said that we would not pressurize Pakistan to take any harsh steps immediately.Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US militarys Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Pakistans Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani had indicated to him more than a year ago that he had plans to execute that mission in North Waziristan.But Mullen said the timing was really up to him (Kiyani) and the US understood that the Pakistani military was already stretched by operations in other tribal areas.
