The US and Britain tried to bolster confidence in Pakistan's ability to retain control of its nuclear arsenal yesterday in the wake of an audacious weekend attack by suspected Taliban militants on the headquarters of the country's army – previously described as impregnable.
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said the attack on the base in Rawalpindi – close to the capital Islamabad – offered “another reminder that extremists...are increasingly threatening the authority of the state”. But she added: “We see no evidence they are going to take over.”
Her comments, after a meeting with UK foreign secretary David Miliband, came as army commandoes regained control of the base in a dramatic pre-dawn raid. At least four of the attackers, three hostages and two commandoes were killed.