Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took off her diplomatic gloves Thursday , challenging Pakistan to crack down on terrorist havens on its side of the border with Afghanistan . In a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai , Clinton -- in unusually forceful language -- laid almost all of the blame for recent terror attacks on Pakistan . The United States , she said , knows the Haqqani terrorist network operates out of havens in Pakistan . `` We intend to push the Pakistanis very hard , '' Clinton said , calling it a `` time for clarity . '' `` Our message is very clear : We 're going to be fighting , we 're going to be talking , we 're going to be building , '' she said . `` And they can either be helping or hindering . But we are not going to stop our efforts to create a strong foundation for an Afghanistan free from interference , violent conflict and one that has a chance to chart its own future . '' Clinton headed straight to Pakistan after her stop in Afghanistan , accompanied by CIA Director David Petraeus and Gen. Martin Dempsey , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . She is expected to meet with Pakistani officials , including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar , to stress that transitioning to Afghan security is in the interest of Pakistan , senior officials said . Earlier Thursday , Clinton 's focus was on Afghanistan , where she met with Karzai and other government officials for talks aimed at boosting reconciliation efforts in the nation . The top U.S. diplomat said she was working toward a peaceful Afghanistan . `` No people in the world deserve it more , '' she said . Shortly before taking off for Pakistan , Clinton told reporters that the death of Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi , which at that time was not confirmed , would `` add legitimacy and relief to the formation of a new government . '' Her visit to Afghanistan followed a stop in Libya , the first by a Cabinet-level American official since the ouster of the longtime strongman . She landed under tight security as forces loyal to the transitional government continued to battle Gadhafi loyalists . Earlier Thursday , Clinton met with representatives of Afghan civil society , including human rights activists who address various issues including education , gender-based violence and youth empowerment . `` These are some of my heroes , '' she said as she greeted them at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul . Her visit comes as the nation pursues peace with the Taliban after years of insurgency . The effort suffered a major setback following the killing of Burhanuddin Rabbani , an Afghan political figure and former president who led the peace council . Rabbani was killed at home last month by suicide bombers posing as Taliban peace mediators . Clinton offered condolences to Salahuddin Rabbani , the oldest son of the slain leader , who was part of a roundtable Thursday . `` He tried to do the right thing , '' she said . The United States supports Karzai and recognizes the blow to the peace effort since Rabbani 's assassination , the official said . In addition to the reconciliation efforts , Clinton also was to discuss Pakistan 's relations with the nation and the upcoming Afghan transition . Coalition forces are in the process of transferring security control to Afghan forces ahead of a U.S. drawdown set to be completed by the end of 2014 . The 33,000 additional American troops sent last year are scheduled to depart the war-torn country fully by September next year . CNN 's Jamie Crawford contributed to this report .
NEW : Clinton arrives in Pakistan after stern words on the need to tackle terror . Clinton : We 're going to be fighting , talking and building in Afghanistan . Joint Chiefs of Staff chief , Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman accompanying her . Hillary Clinton says she is working toward a peaceful Pakistan .