Gates seeks Pakistan help to prevent expected Taliban offensive
US defence secretary Robert Gates today sought Pakistan’s support to prevent an expected Taliban spring offensive in neighbouring Afghanistan.
He said the allies had the chance to deal a “strategic setback” to the militants.
Gates, on his first visit to Pakistan since becoming the Pentagon chief, said he had discussed with president general Pervez Musharraf and US commanders in Afghanistan how to increase pressure on insurgents on both sides of the frontier.
“We talked about the importance of seizing the offensive this spring to deal Taliban and al-Qaida a strategic setback,” Gates said at an airbase near the capital Islamabad after the talks with the Pakistani leader.
Gates described Pakistan as a “very strong ally” of the United States in its war on terrorism.
