“We can make strong requests, we can give advice, we can seek cooperation, but we cannot make a demand on a sovereign nation,” Hoagland said during an exclusive interview to Express News.
“When Secretary Clinton [during her last visit to Pakistan] said that we would like to see Pakistan ‘squeeze’ the Haqqani network [in North Waziristan], there is a real fine distinction that it’s not a demand,” he stressed.
Recent reports of a joint Pak-US military operation in North Waziristan had caused panic among the locals who fled the area by the thousands.
Pakistan Army's Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani too has denied reports of a joint military operation but maintained that an operation might be launched when necessary.
The armed forces have been conducting aerial raids in parts of the tribal areas along with some targeted ground action to combat militants.
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