Top United States military officials are closely monitoring the escalating tension in Pakistan's restive Swat and Waziristan regions to take decision about the kind of assistance to be provided to Islamabad for counter-insurgency operations.
"As they (Pakistan) start to come out of these areas, like Swat and Waziristan, it's a different threat. Is it a threat that Pakistan are ready to handle? Do they need help? Do they need training help? Do they need other types of help? That's what we're trying to assess right now," General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.
"We're assessing what value we could have or any other ally could have in contributing to their security, but they're a sovereign nation. They have to make those decisions and we will stand by and be available," he added.
The Pentagon also concluded that any decision in this regard will be taken keeping in mind that the Pakistan government is confronting a problem that has come to the fore recently.
"You have to look at the realities of the situation. This is a relatively late breaking event," defence secretary Robert Gates said. "This has always been an area that has not been fully under the control of the Pakistani government or where there has been a significant military presence. And it's not a surprise to me that they're having some challenges in trying to deal with that," Gates added.
Considering the 'turbulent time' in Pakistan with the elections, the top military officials are vouching to tread the path cautiously, lest its efforts to bring stability are misconstrued.
"Admiral Fallon is in the area. The chairman's been out there. We're trying to make sure we understand ground truth before we take any action so that it not be misperceived, but contribute to their stability," Cartwright said.
"There may be an opportunity here to better focus on how we can help in that area, both for our own interests and for their interests," Cartwright replied when asked about the possibility of a greater US role in the area.
