US assessing situation in Pak's Swat, Waziristan regions

"As they (Pakistan) start to come out of these areas, like Swat and like the northern areas, Waziristan, it's a different threat. Is it a threat that the Pakistan are ready to handle? Do they need help? Do they need training help? Do they need other types of help? That's what we're trying to assess right now," General James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

"We're assessing what value we could have or any other ally could have in contributing to their security, but they're a sovereign nation. They have to make those decisions and we will stand by and be available," he added.

The Pentagon also concluded that any decision in this regard will be taken keeping in mind that the Pakistan government is confronting a problem that has come to the fore recently.

"...You have to look at the realities of the situation. This is a relatively late breaking event," Defence Secretary Robert Gates said at a briefing.

"And this has always been an area that has not been fully under the control of the Pakistani government or where there has been a significant military presence.... And it's not a surprise to me that they're having some challenges in trying to deal with that," Gates added.

Considering the "turbulent time" in Pakistan with the elections, the top military officials are vouching to tread the path cautiously, lest its efforts to bring stability are misconstrued.

"Admiral Fallon is in the area. The chairman's been out there. We've had several -- we have not gotten those reports back yet. We're waiting to kind of just digest it... And so we're trying to make sure we understand ground truth before we take any action so that it not be misperceived, but contribute to their stability," General Cartwright said.