ISLAMABAD (AP) — In Pakistan, there's widespread outrage over the Taliban shooting of a 14-year-old female activist.
But there's still no agreement on whether Pakistan's government should use this opportunity to target the last major sanctuary of the militants along the Afghan border.
The U.S. has pushed Pakistan to launch that kind of an operation, in an area that is home to enemies of the Pakistani government, as well as to militants fighting U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Although some Pakistani leaders and opinion makers say Pakistan's government should harness the anger over last week's shooting, and build public support for a push into North Waziristan, others say it would just trigger a violent backlash. They say there should be peace negotiations, and an end to Pakistani support for the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
A Taliban gunman shot and critically wounded Malala Yousufzai (mah-LAH'-lah yoo-SOOF'-zeye) last week as she returned home from school in Pakistan's northwest. She was targeted because of her vocal support for girls' education, and her criticism of the insurgents.
She was flown to Britain this week for medical treatment, amid threats by the Taliban to attack her again.
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APPHOTO ISL503: FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 file photo, Pakistani students hold pictures of 14-year-old schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot last Tuesday by the Taliban, during a protest condemning the attack, in Karachi, Pakistan. Despite widespread outrage over the Taliban shooting a female teenage activist, Pakistani leaders and opinion makers are divided over whether the government should respond by targeting the militants' last major sanctuary along the Afghan border.(AP Photo/Fareed Khan, File) (17 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO ISL503 (10/17/12)>>
APPHOTO ISL504: FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012 file photo, 14-year-old schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, is moved to a helicopter to be taken to Peshawar for treatment in Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan. Despite widespread outrage over the Taliban shooting a female teenage activist, Pakistani leaders and opinion makers are divided over whether the government should respond by targeting the militants' last major sanctuary along the Afghan border. (AP Photo/Sherin Zada, File) (17 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO ISL504 (10/17/12)>>
