ISLAMABAD (INP) - Pakistan has hardened its position on the issue of full-fledged military operation in North Waziristan Agency ever since US Navy SEALs attacked and killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad last month. The countrys civil and military leaders reacted angrily to the attack, arguing that any operation by foreign forces in the country must be undertaken only with Pakistans prior knowledge and permission. Western diplomats say the decision to seek the removal of American forces is widely seen as another sign of hardening anti-US sentiment among Pakistans top army generals. They say that Washington desperately requires Pakistans help to gather intelligence on the movement of militants across the Pak-Afghan border. Panetta was told point blank, there will be no US boots on the ground, said the Pakistani government official who spoke to CBS News. Meanwhile, Pakistans civil and military leaders promised to step up efforts for reconciliation between Afghanistans ruling structure and members of the pro-Taliban Haqqani network, but left the future of their support linked with US acceptance of the hardliner movement. On the second day of a high-profile visit to Pakistan by Afghan president Hamid Karzai, a Pakistani minister who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity said, President Karzai is returning to Afghanistan with the promise of our stepped-up support for reconciliation between his government and the Haqqanis. The only catch is whether the US will be equally willing to accept that the Taliban - including the Haqqanis - cannot be militarily defeated, and have a political role. Western diplomats responding to the news said that Pakistans promise marked a potential breakthrough at a time when the Obama administration appears to be keen on consolidating military gains inside Afghanistan while supporting a peace process to end the conflict. The ministers comments appeared to reflect the clearest indication yet of Pakistans determination to push for reconciliation between the ruling structure (led by Karzai) and its Taliban foes.