Pakistan’s president says his country is fighting for its survival against the Taleban, whose influence he said has spread deep into the country.
In an interview with US TV channel CBS, President Asif Zardari said the Taleban had established a presence across "huge parts" of Pakistan.
The country had failed to increase its forces in response, he said.
On Saturday, officials said at least 27 militants were killed in a suspected US missile strike on a Taleban hide-out.
The missile hit a house in north-west Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan, where the US has carried out more than 20 air strikes from drones in recent months.
Islamabad has long argued that the strikes complicate its fight against insurgents, and violate its sovereignty.
Pakistani leaders had said they hoped US President Barack Obama’s new administration would halt them.
But earlier this week Mr Obama said there was no doubt militants were operating in safe havens in Pakistan’s tribal belt and that the US would make sure Pakistan was a strong ally in fighting that threat.
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