The Obama administration is stepping up pressure on Pakistan to expand and reorient its fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda, warning that failing to do so would undercut the new strategy and troop increase for Afghanistan that President Obama is preparing to approve, The New York Times has reported. According to the paper, General Jones also delivered a letter from Mr. Obama to Pakistans president, Asif Ali Zardari, in which Mr. Obama said he expected Mr. Zardari to rally the nations political and national security institutions in a united campaign against extremists threatening Pakistan and Afghanistan. General Jones has praised Pak Army for its operation in South Waziristan but urged an action against terrorists seeking refuge in North Waziristan. Talking to Dunya News Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that correspondence between heads of states was a routine thing and there was nothing extra ordinary about it. Analyst Shireen Mazari told Dunya News that US wanted Pakistan to extend war against terror to Southern Punjab from Waziristan. She opined that US wanted to create destabilization in Pakistan to prove it a failed state so that US could pave way to take control of Pakistani nukes.
