President General Pervez Musharraf has threatened to use military force in tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan if economic pressure fails to persuade tribesmen to identify foreign militants from the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Musharraf said in an interview Friday with Pakistan's ARY television that foreign militants had to be "eliminated" from Pakistan, mainly in the tribal belt.
Pakistan last week imposed an economic blockade, including the closure of the main bazaar in South Waziristan, a tribal area where militants have been active. The rugged region has been the focus of regular manhunts for al-Qaeda members, including leader Osama bin Laden.
A military operation in March cost the lives of about 150 people, including 50 troops. The setback led the government to change tack, encouraging tribesmen to get militants to register, lay down arms and stop fighting in exchange for being allowed to stay in peace.
So far, no militant has accepted the offer and the government stepped up the pressure with the economic restrictions.
"We have to move forward," Musharraf said. "If this fails, there is no doubt in my mind that the military is the answer. How the military will use force -- leave that to the military."
Pakistan has deployed 70,000 troops along the rugged border with Afghanistan to prevent al-Qaeda fighters and their ousted Taliban militia allies from entering or staging cross-border attacks against US forces in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Musharraf urged India's new government to seek a compromise on the disputed territory of Kashmir, saying that early contacts with leaders in New Delhi had been "positive" toward the peace process.
Pakistan and India have two rounds of peace talks scheduled this month -- a meeting on nuclear weapons June 19-20, and the first round of a peace dialogue June 27-28 to take up all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir.
Musharraf has spoken to Sonia Gandhi, the leader of India's Congress party, and her hand-picked prime minister, Manmohan Singh, since Congress won an election upset last month. Both pledged to continue the peace dialogue launched by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"All three of them have been extremely positive on the peace process," Musharraf said. "They have shows the willingness to advance the peace process, resolve all issues and create a peaceful environment."
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