Washington, Aug. 28 : The Pakistan Army may have been claiming that it has forced the Taliban and other extremist groups to retreat in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), but the United States believes that the enemy in Pakistan is far from defeated.

Speaking at the 91st Annual American Legion Convention, Louisville, Kentucky, US Central Command chief General David Petraeus noted that the military operation in the Swat and Malakand Divisions has forced the extremists to move back, but highlighted they are not rooted out from the region.

“These encouraging developments notwithstanding, however, the enemy in Pakistan is far from defeated, and many extremist elements have yet to be engaged, particularly those that typically operate outside Pakistan’s borders,” General Petraeus said.

“Robust Pakistani military operations in Swat Valley and in other NWFP districts have cleared militants from those areas. Operations in FATA in recent months have resulted in the death of militant leader Baitullah Mehsud and a number of other important extremist group leaders,” he added.

General Petraeus said Islamabad has realized that it faces the prime threat from the Taliban and other extremist organization operation from its soil.

“Even here one can sense the beginning of a realization among Pakistan’s leaders and people that extremists operating from their soil, in neighbouring countries, challenge the writ of Pakistani governance and inevitably will turn on their own country’s security forces and citizens,” The Nation quoted General Petraeus, as saying.

He said America would continue its support to the Pakistani military and the government in their fight against extremism. (ANI)