ISLAMABAD, Pakistan ? U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding a second day of talks with top Pakistani officials to press them to do more to combat insurgents.
Clinton was to meet Friday with Pakistan's president and foreign minister after a lengthy four-hour discussion on Thursday with top Pakistani military and intelligence officials. At Thursday's talks, Clinton led a high-level US delegation, including CIA director David Petraeus and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey.
The Obama administration is demanding that Pakistan step up efforts to fight militants intent on destabilizing neighboring Afghanistan. Clinton on Thursday delivered a blunt warning that the United States will do what it must to go after militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan, whether Pakistan helps or not.
She is heading an unusually large delegation for the talks with civilian and military leaders who have resisted previous U.S. demands to take a harder tack against militants who attack American soldiers and interests in Afghanistan.
The U.S. contingent was meant to display unity among the various U.S. agencies, including the CIA, Pentagon and State Department, with an interest in Pakistan. CIA chief David Petraeus and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey joined Clinton, who said the team would "push Pakistan very hard."
Clinton arrived in Islamabad from Afghanistan, where she told Pakistan it must be part of the solution to the Afghan conflict. She said the U.S. expects the Pakistani government, military and intelligence services to take the lead in fighting Pakistan-based militants and also in encouraging Afghan militants to reconcile.
The meetings have focused on the recurrent U.S. demand that Pakistan launch its own offensive against a lethal Taliban affiliate known as the Haqqani network which operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
U.S. officials claim Pakistan either tolerates or supports the group's activities.
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