Pakistan urges more help to combat Taliban

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-28-2009 10:26

Over in Pakistan the government has sent troops to attack Taliban militants in the northwest Dir District. The push appears to endanger a peace deal between the government and the Taliban.

President Asif Ali Zardari is calling for more foreign support, and Pakistan's military spokesman says the army needs better equipment to defeat the militants. (CCTV.com)

President Asif Ali Zardari is calling for more foreign support, and Pakistan's military spokesman says the army needs better equipment to defeat the militants.

On Monday, Zardari told reporters in Islamabad that increasing armed forces in the area is "not the only solution".

Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan President, said, "The solution is to increase civilian forces. In order to keep Dir we need civil forces, we need much better equipped, trained police. We need police stations made more defendable."

Pakistani security forces used helicopters and artillery in an operation against Islamist guerrilla hide-outs in the Dir District. At least 31 were killed in Sunday's operations.