“I don’t want to put a proximity or timeline on it (getting bin Laden). As I’ve said, we have gotten closer because we have been able to kill a number of their trainers, their operational people, their financiers.”

In an interview with Fox News in Islamabad, Clinton said a good relationship with Pakistan was vital to the United States economic interests as well as its security. “This is where the principal terrorist threat to the United States emanates from,” Clinton told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren during her Pakistan visit.

Clinton also noted Pakistan’s internal political problems in moving against Pakistani elements of the Taliban who were believed to be sheltering al-Qaeda. But she added that the US would stay in the region for the long-term to provide support.

“This is tough,” Clinton said. “I’m not going to sit here and tell you that it’s not, I think it would be a mistake to walk away.”Clinton added: “We’ve done that. We have walked away from both Pakistan and Afghanistan in the past, with all the consequences we’re well aware of.” http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=30193

2. Counter-Terrorism Authority chief resigns
ISLAMABAD: Director General (DG) National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Tariq Pervez on Tuesday tendered his resignation, citing personal reasons behind his decision to relinquish the charge of this prestigious office.

Tariq Pervez, a senior officer of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), retired from the post of Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) about two years ago. However, keeping in view the distinguished career of the officer and the unique system that he developed to track down the terror networks, the government had engaged him once again on a contract basis to head the newly- established NACTA.

Pervez is considered an expert in counter-terrorism measures and is known to have earned a lot of respect from the leading international spy agencies.

Tariq Pervez, when contacted by The News, confirmed that he had tendered his resignation to the prime minister three days ago due to some personal reasons. However, sources close to the officer said Pervez had resigned due to utter frustration as he was effectively prevented from carrying forward the work that he had initiated while he was the DG FIA.

“While in the FIA, he developed a system, which was extremely helpful in tracing down any person who had a record or was suspected of having any contacts with any terror or banned outfits all over the country, whenever he/she might make a contact with somebody. This system was put into practice and proved to be quite effective and beneficial for the law-enforcing agencies engaged in anti-terror efforts,” the sources in NACTA told The News.

“However, since he was re-hired on a contract basis to head the NACTA, he was effectively rendered useless, sitting in a posh office and doing nothing. One can understand that nothing could be more frustrating for a person like Tariq Pervez. So, we believe this was the reason that forced him to tender his resignation from this prestigious position,” the sources in NACTA said. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=30203

3. Bid to attack Army Training Centre in Mardan foiled
MARDAN: The Pakistan Army soldiers foiled a terrorist attack and killed five militants, including three suicide bombers, after an exchange of fire at the military training ground in the Punjab Regiment Centre here on Tuesday, official sources said.

This was apparently the first time that timely action resulted in the killing of five terrorists and prevented them from causing any casualty at the place they were attacking. It was also the biggest attempted terrorist strike in Mardan as seven militants, including three suicide bombers, were involved in the attack.

Official sources in Mardan said the Army recruits were busy in doing exercises early Tuesday at the military training centre located on the busy Mardan-Malakand Road when five militants, including three suicide bombers, scaled the walls of the Punjab Regiment Centre from western and southern sides. They tried to enter the training ground but were shot dead by the troops before they could blow themselves up.

A spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), talking to a foreign news agency, claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a previous attack on the Punjab Regiment Centre, a market owned by it outside the premises of the centre was bombed by the militants in which more than 40 people were killed. Rockets have also been fired at the centre from nearby areas without causing any damage. In a major suicide bombing some years ago, the Punjab Regiment’s training centre in Dargai, Malakand Agency, was attacked in which 42 recruits were killed. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=30201