US General David Petraeus on Monday said that according to the international laws the US has the right to launch cross-border offensive, adding that his country will not send its ground troops to Pakistan. Talking to media here at the US Embassy, Petraeus said presently there are no indications that Pakistan Army wants to topple the government and ruled out differences between the US and the army.

"There is no antagonism between the US and Pakistan Army as they are enjoying the best military relationship," he added. To a question he said, "No Blackwater is present in Pakistan." He said that the drone strikes are not being extended to Balochistan. He held Taliban responsible for all the suicide attacks inside Pakistan.

Petraeus said the financial restraints of al Qaeda are increasing to keep presence in Afghanistan, adding that there is no possibility that Taliban would be able to form government in Afghanistan. To a question, he said Pakistan was taken into confidence on the new Afghan policy, adding that in 2011 the US troops would start pulling out of Afghanistan.

He appreciated the role of Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force played in fighting terrorism and lauded Pakistanis for putting up brave fight against terrorists. He said the US and Pakistan have to go hand-in-hand to eliminate terrorism from the region.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2009