Washington:
Notwithstanding India's dissatisfaction with the steps taken by Islamabad to punish perpetrators of Mumbai attacks, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she is "impressed" by the commitment shown by Pakistan in fighting terrorism within its territory.
Earlier in 2009, when the Taliban had captured the Swat Valley, Clinton during a Congressional hearing had raised serious question over the commitment of both the Pakistani government and its army to launch an all out war against all the terrorist and extremist elements in the country.
"Well, I am very impressed with the commitment that the Pakistani government, both the civilian leadership and the military, have made," Clinton told a television channel in an interview, when she was referred to her statement a few months ago that Pakistan was in danger of falling to the terrorists.
"When I said what I said some months ago, there was not the full commitment of going after those who were threatening territory and authority inside Pakistan. There is now. And I think the military in Pakistan has proven its effectiveness in going into Swat," Clinton said defending the change in her opinion about both the democratically elected government of Pakistan and its army.
"From what I read in the paper, they're very much focused on also going into the heartland of where the Pakistani Taliban and Al-Qaida are located and where these plots and these attacks are planned and directed. So I think that they understand that there is a direct threat to them, which they are addressing, which I think is all to the good," Clinton said.