Militants have operated too long from Pak: US

Islamabad: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says militants have operated from Pakistani soil for too long and should not be tolerated or protected.

Clinton spoke on Friday during a press conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in Islamabad.

The US has stepped up pressure on Pakistan to take military action against the Haqqani militant network, which operates from the country's tribal region. It is considered the most dangerous threat to American troops in Afghanistan.

The secretary of state is heading an unusually large delegation for two days of talks with civilian and military leaders in Pakistan. The delegation includes the CIA chief and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.