LONDON: While U-S Defence Secretary Robert Gates said that Washington would prefer for Pakistan to tackle militants itself, he insisted that U-S forces have the right to strike at militants inside Pakistan.In an interview with foreign TV, Gates said that militants are the "common enemy" of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the coalition forces. He said his country's goal is to partner with the Pakistanis and enable them to deal with militancy on the border themselves. Asked if Pakistan had authorised air strikes on its soil, he said that the US would take "whatever actions necessary" in self-defence. Washington would prefer for Pakistan to tackle militants itself, he added. Gates, fresh from a visit to Afghanistan, is in London for talks with other Nato ministers. Earlier on Thursday, he said that increasing militant violence there might prompt a change in US strategy, but gave no details. 'Whatever necessary'Speaking to media security correspondent Frank Gardner, Gates welcomed the Pakistani army's "much more aggressive" approach to militants along the border in recent weeks.
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