US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said nuclear armed Pakistan, where al Qaeda and the Taliban extremists are increasing their influence, poses a mortal threat to the world.

In her first testimony to Congress since her confirmation as the US chief diplomat in January, Hillary asked Pakistani government officials as well as Pakistanis at home and abroad, including in the United States, to speak out forcefully against the Swat peace accord that is ceding more and more territory to the insurgents.