Pakistan says it could use military force to help ensure militants do
not use its territory to launch attacks on other countries, especially
Afghanistan.
The statement by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday is seen as the strongest stance his new government has taken on militants operating in Pakistan's lawless northwest.
Mr. Gilani said Pakistan would use a multi-pronged approach to fight extremism and terrorism. He said tribal elders will be responsible for expelling foreign fighters.
Afghanistan says Pakistan is not doing enough to stop cross-border attacks. It has threatened to send troops into Pakistan to fight Taliban militants there. Pakistan has denounced the threat.
Also today, pro-Taliban extremists in northwestern Pakistan killed 22 members of a pro-government tribe. The victims were among a group of tribesmen kidnapped by extremists earlier this week during a raid on the town of Jandola.
The statement by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday is seen as the strongest stance his new government has taken on militants operating in Pakistan's lawless northwest.
Mr. Gilani said Pakistan would use a multi-pronged approach to fight extremism and terrorism. He said tribal elders will be responsible for expelling foreign fighters.
Afghanistan says Pakistan is not doing enough to stop cross-border attacks. It has threatened to send troops into Pakistan to fight Taliban militants there. Pakistan has denounced the threat.
Also today, pro-Taliban extremists in northwestern Pakistan killed 22 members of a pro-government tribe. The victims were among a group of tribesmen kidnapped by extremists earlier this week during a raid on the town of Jandola.
The Pakistani government initiated low-level talks with pro-Taliban
militants after taking power earlier this year. But the new approach
has failed to stop militant attacks on Afghanistan, and in Pakistan.
In another part of Pakistan's northwest, officials said pro-Taliban
forces burned down at least five girls' schools in the Swat region.
They said militants also took over another girls' school in the region.