US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has defended the right of American forces to strike at militants on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border.
Talking to BBC he said Pakistan had authorised such air strikes, 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.
Gates welcomed the Pakistani army's "much more aggressive" approach to militants along the border in recent weeks.
He said the militants were the "common enemy" of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and US troops and their allies.
"Our goal is to partner with the Pakistanis and enable them to deal with this threat on the border themselves," he said.
"I would just say that we will take whatever action necessary to protect our troops," he added
Gates told that the US tried to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. He accused the Taliban of using them as human shields.
Talking to BBC he said Pakistan had authorised such air strikes, 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.
Gates welcomed the Pakistani army's "much more aggressive" approach to militants along the border in recent weeks.
He said the militants were the "common enemy" of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and US troops and their allies.
"Our goal is to partner with the Pakistanis and enable them to deal with this threat on the border themselves," he said.
"I would just say that we will take whatever action necessary to protect our troops," he added
Gates told that the US tried to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. He accused the Taliban of using them as human shields.
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