U.S. praises Pakistan handling of Swat crisis

By Andrew Gray and Simon Cameron-Moore

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The United States' top military officer on Thursday praised Pakistan's handling of the humanitarian crisis resulting from an assault on Taliban strongholds in the northwest.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited one of several camps set up to provide shelter for families among the two million people who fled their homes after fighting broke out in the Swat and Buner valleys last April.

"There had been great speculation that this was going to be a massive problem that couldn't be handled," Mullen told reporters at the sprawling Jalozai camp in the northwest city of Mardan, where some 116,000 people have taken refuge.

"It seemed to be very well handled," said Mullen, whose visit came days after authorities began to let families go home.

Pakistan's Western allies were relieved when the army swung into action in April as concern mounted over the stability of the nuclear-armed Muslim state.

The army is now in the final stages of the Swat operation, and has orders to mount a campaign against Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud in the remote, mountainous Waziristan tribal region that borders Afghanistan.

Having met army chief General Ashfaq Kayani earlier on Thursday, Mullen said he didn't believe Pakistani forces risked becoming over-stretched and said the approach to Waziristan appeared "very orderly."

Air strikes and medium range artillery have been used to soften up Mehsud's defences, and U.S. drones also have begun targeting Mehsud territory more frequently in recent weeks.