Clinton urges Pakistan to eliminate 'safe havens'

Hillary Clinton yesterday pushed Pakistan to deny militants a safe haven on its territory and to deliver them to the negotiating table.

The message comes against a backdrop of unprecedented tensions between the United States and Pakistan, with signs that Washington could be tempted to take unilateral action if Islamabad chooses to ignore its requests.

The US Secretary of State was accompanied on her overnight visit to the Pakistani capital by a delegation that included the CIA's new director, David Petraeus, and the American military's new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey.

"We look to Pakistan to take strong steps to deny Afghan insurgents safe havens and to encourage the Taliban to enter negotiations in good faith," Ms Clinton said at a press conference.

At a joint press conference with Ms Clinton, Pakistan's Foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, insisted that her country does not sponsor safe havens and pointed to the existence of militants who also target Pakistan on the other side of the border.