Nato to ‘thoroughly investigate’ border incident
Attack open aggression: Firdous
Kabul—The US commander in Afghanistan on Saturday promised a full investigation after Pakistan said a Nato air strike killed over 23 soldiers, sending his condolences over any troops who may have died.
“This incident has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts,” said General John Allen, commander of Nato’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
“My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan security forces who may have been killed or injured,” he added in a statement.
In the six months since US commandos killed Osama bin Laden near the Pakistani capital Islamabad without prior warning, Pakistani, US and Afghan officials have traded increasing complaints about cross-border attacks.
ISAF said Saturday it remained “committed to improving security relations” with Pakistan, including the coordination of operations along the border – in many places unmarked – “in our united fight against terrorism”.
Pakistan has frequently accused Nato of violating its airspace in pursuits of Taliban militants, but never before over such a deadly strike.
The last crisis occurred in September 2010 when Pakistan shut the main land route for Nato supplies at Torkham for 11 days after accusing Nato of killing three Pakistani troops in another attack in its northwest.
The border was reopened after the United States formally apologised. —AP
US apologizes to Pakistan
Islamabad—The United States of America on Saturday apologizes Pakistan over NATO attack on a check post and announced for a joint investigation regarding the attack.
US Ambassador Cameron Munter’s apology statement has been issued here.
In the statement he said that he heard about the attack from media and is sorry to know about loss of lives in the attack. Munter said the US and Pakistan will jointly investigate the issue. “I have seen press accounts of an incident on the Pakistani-Afghan border in which Pakistani soldiers were reportedly killed. I regret the loss of life of any Pakistani servicemen, and pledge that the United States will work closely with Pakistan to investigate this incident,” the statement said. —NNI
Attack open aggression: Firdous
Salim Ahmed
Lahore—Information Minister Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan Saturday condemned the NATO attack on its soil and security forces and said there will be no compromise on national sovereignty. “The government will raise the attack on Salala check post by NATO helicopters at all international Fora,” she said while talking to reporters here Saturday.
Dr Firdous said aggression on security forces and law enforcing agencies is aggression on Pakistan. She regretted that such incidents occur at a time whenever there is a progress towards peace in the region. She, however, pledged that Pakistan would continue its active role in bringing peace and security to Afghanistan through its three-d policy of development‚ dialogue and deterrence.
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that NATO aggression on two Pakistani Army border posts, was a direct assault on the sovereignty of the country. She said Armed Forces were not only the defenders of national geographical boundaries but also “constitutional” borders. She said the people were struggling against the mindset of extremism which was trying to
create instability in the country, and added education was the only solution to this problem. The sovereignty of the country was the top priority of government, she said and added no government could tolerate any attack its territories. “We are working with our coalition partners for the implementation of resolutions of Parliament on terrorism,” she said.
The Information Minister said whenever the government took the initiative to separate Taliban from locals, an assault on the nation turned the sympathy of locals towards the Taliban, adding that such attacks were not in favour of the war on terrorism.
She said the government was endeavouring to resolve the issue of terrorism with the help of the United Nation, backdoor diplomacy and dialogue, and added the process of peace could only be successful by implementation of the 3D (Dialogue, Development and Deterrence) policy of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
To a question, Dr Firdous ruled out any understanding on the NATO assault and assured the nation that such incidents would never be tolerated. She said that whenever the peace process was launched, such incidents happened which hampered the process.
She said, “Pakistan is playing its role in peace in Afghanistan. We are also trying to ensure the integrity of Pakistan with the support of the government, people and the media.”
To another question, she said US taxpayers were investing in Pakistan for elimination of illiteracy, poverty and ignorance in society and added that it was not necessary for the government to agree to all policies of any other nation.
About the programme of Rafi Peer Theatre for child education, she said it was a people-to-people contact, not a government-to-government intitative.
To a question on the implementation of the NRO verdict, the Minister said the government had not yet received detailed judgement and it would be implemented according to the Constitution.
Moreover, the Information Minister also joined the nurses holding protest outside press club for the acceptance of their demands