Leon Panetta: Pakistan 'to combat Taliban militants'

The US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, has said that Pakistan is planning to launch combat operations against Taliban militants near the Afghan border.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Mr Panetta said the operations would also target the Haqqani network, an al Qaeda-linked group whose fighters move either side of the border to launch attacks in Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan's military chief, General Ashfaq Parvaz Kayani, had discussed the proposed military action with the senior US commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen.