Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Saturday said that terrorists can strike in any part of the country as they are in trouble in Swat valley in the wake of major military offensive.
"There are intelligence reports that terrorists can carry out attacks in any part of the country as reaction," Gilani told reporters in Lahore, capitial city of the eastern Punjab province.
"But terrorists can not hold us hostage," Gilani said, adding that operation against the militants is progressing well.
"We order operation where the writ is challenged, and when a parallel government is established. Armed forces assist the civil administration as and when they are required," Gilani said.
He rejected criticism at the military operation and said the action was taken after militants challenged writ of the government, according to the News Network International (NNI) news agency.
Gilani said the operation was well-planned and there is cohesion between the security forces and civil institutions. "We are successful and we will be successful," Gilani said.
To a question about the United States drone attacks inside the tribal regions, Gilani said the American strikes were counter productive and affected the anti-terror strategy.
"We are hopeful that the U.S. will revive its policy. If these attacks were benefited, we would have supported it," he said.
Two bomb blasts killed around 20 people in the northwestern city of Peshawar in a week and the authorities believe attacks were reaction to the military operation against the militants, according to the NNI.
Over 1100 militants have been killed in Swat and other parts in the operation in North West Frontier Province, according to local press reports.
(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2009)
