Pak must destroy Taliban in two weeks time: Petraeus

Washington, May One: Virtually putting Pakistan on notice, the US has said it is looking for concrete action by the government there to destroy the Taliban operating out of its territory in the next two weeks before determining its next course of action.
Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command, has told U.S. Officials the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive, Fox News reported.

Petraeus made this assessment in talks with lawmakers and Obama administration officials this week, individuals familiar with the discussions told the TV channel.

"The Pakistanis have run out of excuses" and are "finally getting serious" about combating the threat from Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists operating out of Northwest Pakistan, the general is reported to have told the officials.

The TV network reported that Petraeus also said wearily that "we've heard it all before" from the Pakistanis and he is looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining the United States' next course of action.

The Obama Administration is currently focussed on propping up the Pakistani government and military with counter-insurgency training and foreign aid.

The network said Petraeus and senior administration officials believe the Pakistani army, led by Chief of Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, is "superior" to the civilian government, led by President Ali Zardari, and could conceivably survive even if Zardari's government falls to the Taliban. PTI