U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has harshly criticized Pakistan's government for ceding more territory to Taliban, saying it has abdicated to the Taliban.

The remarks are considered to be some of the sharpest words any U.S. officials has had for Pakistan.

In response to a question from one lawmaker, Clinton said the president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has pursued a policy of ceding more and more territory to the Taliban and others.

We cannot underscore (enough) the serious threat posed to Pakistan by the continuing advances that are being made by a group of terrorists and others who are seeking the overthrow of the Pakistani states, which as we all know is a nuclear-armed state,” she said.

Later, Secretary Clinton said the Obama administration believes any aid assistance for Pakistan must come with conditions, but she said the process of formulating these conditions is not simple.

If the conditions are too weak we don't get changes, if they are too strong we get a backlash, so we are trying to figure out what will influence Pakistan's behavior and produce results, she added.

Hillary Clinton Pakistan