Biden Holds Security Talks WIth Pakistan Leaders

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (right) meets with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Islamabad.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden held talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad today to discuss Islamabad's efforts to fight Islamic militants on its border with Afghanistan.

After his talks with Biden, President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated in a statement Pakistan's resolve to fight to eliminate extremists and terrorists on Pakistani soil.

Speaking after talks with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Biden said that militants are a threat to Pakistan.

"We know that there are those who believe that in America's fight against Al-Qaeda we have imposed a war upon Pakistan," Biden said. "But violent extremists are a threat not just to the United States but to Pakistan as well, and indeed to the entire civilized world."

In talks with the army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani later today, Biden was expected to press the military leadership to launch an operation against militants in North Waziristan, considered the main base for Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters.

In Afghanistan on January 11, Biden said that Islamabad needs to do more to eliminate militants in Pakistan's northwest who launch attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

compiled from agency reports