WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that Pakistan needs to do more to control the flow of extremists along its porous border with Afghanistan.
He said he hopes that as progress increases in Afghanistan, the withdrawal of U.S. troops to begin in July can accelerate.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, commenting on diplomatic efforts during a White House briefing, said the United States will continue to work to "close the gap" between Kabul and Islamabad. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick and Ross Colvin; Editing by Jackie Frank)
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