Clinton: Pakistan must squash safe havens

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KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States will push Pakistan to crack down on terrorist safe havens inside its borders.

In a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Clinton said U.S. officials know that the Haqqani terrorist network operates out of Pakistan, CNN reported Thursday.

"We intend to push the Pakistanis very hard," Clinton said. "Our message is very clear: we're going to be fighting, we're going to be talking, we're going to be building. And they can either be helping or hindering."

She assured Afghanistan that the United States wouldn't stop its efforts to create a "strong foundation for an Afghanistan free from interference, violent conflict and one that has a chance to chart its own future."

"No people in the world deserve it more," she said.

After her unannounced visit to Afghanistan, Clinton will travel to Pakistan with CIA Director David Petraeus and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, CNN said.

She is expected to meet with Pakistani leaders to discuss how transitioning security responsibility to Afghan forces is in the interest of Pakistan, senior officials said.