US poised for 145;hot pursuit146; raids in Pak: Report

The Bush administration is recalibrating US operations in the region because of the increase in violent attacks against US-led forces in Afghanistan that have pushed US casualties for the month of June beyond the monthly toll in Iraq, the lawmakers8211; Gene Green, Henry Cuellar Democrats and Michael McCaul Republican told the Chronicle.

Cuellar said that 8220;either Pakistan does more or we will be taking things into our own hands,8221; adding: 8220;If our troops are fired on, there will be hot pursuit into that territory.8221; The State Department did not respond to a request for comment, the Chronicle said.

Pakistan8217;s ineffective campaign makes it 8220;imperative that US forces be allowed to pursue the Taliban and al-Qaida in tribal areas inside Pakistan,8221; McCaul insisted.

8220;If we don8217;t do something now, they8217;re going to strike us again in the United States and it is going to be out of this area.8221; U.S. Predator aircraft, pilotless drones, have reportedly carried out at least four missile strikes against suspected terrorists inside Pakistan so far this year, killing at least 45 people.

The Congressmen said their delegation met President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani last week urging additional action against Islamic militants in the tribal territories.