Military action in North Waziristan after assessing situation: Pakistan

Pakistan has said that its security forces will launch an operation in the Taliban-infested North Waziristan tribal region after
assessing the situation and the military leadership will take
a decision on the issue keeping in view national interests.

The campaign would be started after assessing the situation, prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told reporters on the sidelines of a function also attended by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

He made the remarks when asked about launching of a military operation against the Taliban militants in North Waziristan.

Kayani, on his part, said the military leadership will make a decision about starting the operation in North Waziristan tribal agency.

"The decision as to when and how the military operation should be launched in North Waziristan will be taken by the military leadership keeping in view the national interests," he said.

His statement came amid reports in the US media that the American military was looking at options for a unilateral
strike in Pakistan if a successful terrorist strike on the US
soil is traced back to the country.

Plans for a unilateral strike were developed after ties between Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad and elements of the Pakistani Taliban were established, the Washington Post reported.

But US retaliation, the report said citing officials, will be  contemplated only under extreme circumstances such as
catastrophic attack that leaves president Barack Obama convinced that the ongoing campaign of CIA drone strikes is
insufficient.