Pakistan plans to launch a major combat operation against Taliban militants in a tribal area near the Afghan border, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday citing Pakistan's military chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayan, The Voice of Russia reported.
Panetta said he did not know when exactly the Pakistani operation would start, but he said he understands it will be in the "near future."
The Pentagon chief said relations with the Pakistani military have improved "a great deal" lately, after a falling out over American airstrikes that killed 26 Pakistani soldiers last November.