LD QURESHI 3 LST

Qureshi also said Pakistan would not give any
"physical or political space" to any terrorist organisations
in the country.

He said his government would get rid of terrorist safe
havens and deny "physical, political and ideological space" to
terror groups.

"We have no choice. For our own security and for
protection of our people, we have to get rid of these safe
havens," he said.

Qureshi's remarks assume significance as the Pakistan
army is on the brink of launching a major military assault on
South Waziristan, Taliban stronghold, located close to border
with Afghanistan.

Experience gained from military operations in Swat,
the challenges of managing internally displaced population and
the subsequent reconstruction and rehabilitations efforts
serve as a template for further operations in the tribal
region bordering Afghanistan, he said.

"Terrorists are in retreat, with their top leadership
in Malakand and Swat either captured or killed. The leader of
the Pakistani Taliban Baitullah Mehsud is dead. Taliban in the
tribal region are in disarray. No single leader holds sway
over disparate factions," Qureshi said. PTI