Defense Secretary Robert Gates has confirmed the private military firms Blackwater and DynCorp are operating in Pakistan. Gates made the admission in an interview with the Pakistani network Express TV.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates: “Well, they’re operating as individual companies here in Pakistan, in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Because they are theaters of war involving the United States, there are rules concerning the contracting companies. If they’re contracting with us or with the State Department here in Pakistan, then there are very clear rules set forth by the State Department and by ourselves.”

Gates also announced the US will provide a dozen spy drones to Pakistan for the first time. The news coincides with Pakistan’s announcement it won’t launch any assaults against militants in North Waziristan for at least six months.