Hillary Clinton: "Extremists are threatening the
authority of the state"
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The US secretary of state has said that a
militant attack on Pakistan's army HQ is evidence of an increasing
threat against the authority of the state.
Speaking in London, Hillary Clinton said that despite the
attack, the US remained confident about Pakistan's control over its
nuclear weapons.
The attack, which began on Saturday and turned into a siege,
ended hours ago after hostages were released.
Correspondents say the attack is highly embarrassing for
Pakistan's leaders.
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"Yesterday was another reminder that extremists ... are
increasingly threatening the authority of the state, but we see no
evidence they are going to take over the state," Mrs Clinton
said.
"We have confidence in the Pakistani government and military's
control over its nuclear weapons," she added.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Pakistan faced a
"mortal threat", but there was no risk of its nuclear weapons
falling into terrorist hands.
The two officials also stressed other shared aspects of foreign
policy:
Major operation
On Sunday morning Pakistani security forces freed more than 40
hostages held at the base, in the city of Rawalpindi.
Military officials said three hostages and two soldiers died in
the operation along with at least four militants. Four militants
and six soldiers died in the initial attack.
The sound of blasts and gunfire rang out as Pakistani special
forces entered the compound for the pre-dawn raid.
Army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said the forces had met
resistance in what he described as a "very skilled" operation.
They found the hostages being held in a room "with a terrorist
who was wearing a suicide jacket", he said.
Gen Abbas said the commandos had "acted promptly" and shot the
suspected hostage taker "before he could pull the trigger".
The attack came as the army was preparing for a major operation
against the Taliban, which officials say have claimed
responsibility.
The Taliban had been threatening to carry out attacks unless
operations against it were stopped.
