Pakistan on Saturday lodged strong protests against US and Nato on their helicopters' 'unprovoked' cross-border attacks, and warned that such incursions could have serious repercussions on Pakistan-US/Nato/ISAF co-operation. The protest was lodged at the Foreign Office when US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter was summoned on the instructions of the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
According to Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua, Foreign Secretary Salaman Bashir called in US Ambassador Cameron Munter to lodge a strong protest on the unprovoked Nato/ISAF attack on Pakistan border posts in the Mohmand Agency. "Strong protest has also been lodged in Washington and at the Nato Headquarters in Brussels (simultaneously)," she said. Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir conveyed to the US Ambassador that the unprovoked attack by Nato/ISAF aircraft on border posts in which 24 Pakistani troops lost their lives and another 13 were injured has deeply incensed the government and the people of Pakistan.
The incursion is the worst incident of its kind in which according to Foreign Office 24 Pakistani troops have lost their lives, while independent sources said that 28 security personnel were killed and 11 others wounded in the attack on the Salala checkpoint in Mohmand Agency, about 2.5 km from the Afghan border. Earlier, in such an incident Nato gunship helicopters attacked Pakistani security forces' posts in Kurram Agency on September 30 last year in which three personnel were killed and three other wounded.
"The President, the Prime Minister and the Government of Pakistan strongly condemned the attacks, which were totally unacceptable, constituted a grave infringement of Pakistan's sovereignty, are in violation of international law and a serious transgression of the often conveyed red lines and could have serious repercussions on Pakistan-US/Nato/ISAF co-operation," the foreign secretary warned.
The spokesperson further said that the US Ambassador was informed that the Prime Minister has convened an emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet to evaluate the situation arising from these uncalled for attacks by Nato/ISAF forces. Earlier, reacting to the attack, the Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the Nato/ISAF attack on the Pakistani post. "On his directives, the matter is being taken up by the Foreign Ministry, in the strongest terms, with Nato and the US," said Foreign Office spokesperson in a statement.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Munter expressed regret at the loss of life in the cross-border incident. "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 the incident," US Embassy in Islamabad quoted Munter.