Obama warning on Pakistan 'haven'

Mr Obama said a regional approach was needed to fight terrorism

US President Barack Obama has said his administration would not allow "safe havens" for militants in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Mr Obama's comments at his first White House prime-time news conference came even as his envoy to the region Richard Holbrooke is in Pakistan.

Mr Holbrooke, who arrived in Islamabad on Monday, has said he was there to "listen and learn" about the region.

He has said the situation in Pakistan was "dire".

Mr Obama said Mr Holbrooke would convey his message to Islamabad.

"My bottom line is that we cannot allow al-Qaeda to operate," he said. "We cannot have those safe havens in that region."

"We're going to have to work both smartly and effectively, but with consistency in order to make sure that those safe havens don't exist," Mr Obama added.

'Regional approach'

The US president said he had appointed Mr Holbrooke as a special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan to work out a regional approach to dealing with terrorism.

"I've sent over Richard Holbrooke - one of our top diplomats - to evaluate a regional approach," he said.

I'm not going to allow al-Qaeda or Osama bin Laden to operate with impunity, planning attacks on the US homeland. Barack Obama

"We are going to need more effective coordination of our military efforts with diplomatic efforts with development efforts with more effective coordination with our allies in order for us to be successful."

Mr Obama said he had no timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

"I do not have yet a timetable for how long that's going to take. What I know is... I'm not going to allow al-Qaeda or Osama bin Laden to operate with impunity, planning attacks on the US homeland."

Separately, Mr Holbrooke will be meeting Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to discuss tackling militancy in the region.

On Sunday he said the situation in the country was "dire" and that Islamabad needed "international assistance, international sympathy and international support".

He also said countries bordering Afghanistan must become part of the solution to its problems.

The US has frequently urged Pakistan to do more to tackle militants and the recent release of disgraced nuclear scientist AQ Khan from house arrest has also concerned Washington.

Pakistan in turn has repeatedly criticised US drone attacks on militants in its territory.

The fallout from the Mumbai (Bombay) attacks will also be on the agenda.

Mr Holbrooke will report back to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after his trip ends.