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CIA chief wants military action against ‘all extremists’

* Panetta briefed on ‘security compulsions’ to be considered while carrying out more military campaigns in Tribal Areas

By Sajjad Malik

ISLAMABAD: US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta on Friday urged Pakistan to expand the military operation in the Tribal Areas to target all extremists.

Sources told Daily Times Panetta praised the Pakistan Army’s recent action against terrorists in Swat and South Waziristan. They said the CIA chief encouraged military officials to continue the present momentum against terrorists and take action against those terrorists who frequently moved across the border and target US and other international forces in Afghanistan.

Panetta met President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha. Sources said Panetta held a detailed meeting with Pasha and discussed issues related to the war on terror, military-to-military cooperation and intelligence sharing to make joint efforts against terrorism more effective.

They said Panetta was informed about the “security compulsions” that should be kept in view while carrying out more military campaigns in the Tribal Areas. “Any expansion in military activity in these areas demands more troops and the possible relocation of some of troops from eastern borders, which is not possible in the existing security situation,” the sources said.

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