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.
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question: What are they going to do in Pakistan, answer: to be talking, we're | question: Where is Clinton?, answer: Afghanistan. | question: In what country is she visiting?, answer: Pakistan | question: Who is accompanying her, answer: CIA Director David Petraeus and Gen. Martin Dempsey, | question: Who is working toward the peace?, answer: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton | question: What did she say?, answer: "We intend to push the Pakistanis very hard," | question: Who arrived in Pakistan, answer: Clinton | question: Who is with her on the trip?, answer: CIA Director David Petraeus and Gen. Martin Dempsey,