Washington: United States (US) Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Monday revealed that the Pakistani military has planned to begin combat operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda affiliates including Haqqani Network soon in a tribal areas near Afghan border, AP reports said.
Speaking to The Associated Press in his Pentagon office on Monday, Panetta said that Pakistan’s military chief gave indication of the planned operation in recent conversations with Gen. John Allen, top American commander in Afghanistan.
Panetta said that he did not know when the Pakistani operation would start, but he said he understands it will be in the “near future,” and that the main target will be the Pakistani Taliban, rather than the Haqqani network.
Haqqani leaders fled to Pakistan’s North Waziristan region from their homeland in eastern Afghanistan following the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
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