Dawn, Pakistan
06/16/2008
By Syed Irfan Raza
[Printer Friendly Version]

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan reacted strongly on Sunday to Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s threat to send in his army to finish off Taliban and Baitullah Mehsud on Pakistani soil.

“We neither interfere in other countries’ internal affairs nor will we allow anyone to interfere in ours,” Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told a TV channel.

The Foreign Office issued a stern statement, saying security forces in Afghanistan could take any action they wanted against militants in their country but not on Pakistani territory.

“Any statement that negated this basic principle and did not respect (Pakistan’s) territorial sovereignty will not help in the war on terrorism and will be counterproductive. Pakistan will defend its territorial sovereignty,” Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq told Dawn.

He hoped that Karzai’s remarks would not reignite a blame game by Afghanistan. Reiterating that the country would not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty, Mr Gilani said: “Such statements will not help in the normalisation of relations between the two countries and will hurt the sentiments of people on both sides of the border.”

Stressing that Pakistan wanted friendly ties with Afghanistan, he said that such statements could shatter the confidence between the two sides.

The spokesman said Pakistan had a clear position — on the Afghan side, the Afghan national army, the UN-mandated ISAF and the US-led forces could take whatever action they wanted against terrorists. “However, on the Pakistani side, only Pakistani troops can take action,” he added.

U.S. Faces Resentment in Afghan Region The New York Times (07/02/2009)

U.S. troops in Afghanistan arouse curiosity Reuters (07/02/2009)

U.S. troops remember beloved Afghan worker The Washington Times (07/02/2009)

On the Afghanistan frontier, change may be at hand Los Angeles Times (07/02/2009)

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Two Views on Afghanistan Mission Der Spiegel (07/02/2009)

US, Afghans take first district in major assault AFP (07/02/2009)

Female legislator survives bomb attack as 4 guards injured in N Afghanistan Xinhua (07/02/2009)

US: American soldier captured in Afghanistan The Associated Press (07/02/2009)

Afghan sunrise for US Marines flying into battle AFP (07/02/2009)

U.S. begins major Afghan assault, soldier kidnapped Reuters (07/02/2009)

The British Experience of Tribal Militias, For Idiots Registan,net (07/01/2009)

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Warlords comeback kings of Afghan elections Agence France-Presse (07/01/2009)

The Irresistible Illusion London Review of Books (07/01/2009)

New road threatens ancient Afghan site AFP (07/01/2009)

Key in Afghanistan: Economy, Not Military The Washington Post (07/01/2009)

Jones: No More Troops to Afghanistan Reuters (07/01/2009)

Afghanistan - USA in One Day Business Wire (07/01/2009)

Three dead, around 18 missing after Afghan raft sinks AFP (07/01/2009)

Interview: McChrystal Says Solution In Afghanistan Is Developing Governance RFE/RL (07/01/2009)

Ban issues dire warning for Afghanistan UPI (06/30/2009)

Suicide attack kills two AFP (06/30/2009)

Outgoing NATO Commander Slams European Role In Afghanistan AFP (06/30/2009)

Foreign forces "losing" in Afghanistan Reuters (06/30/2009)

US to focus on agriculture in Afghanistan Pajhwok (06/30/2009)

Atmar seeking end to private 'militias' The Associated Press (06/30/2009)

Iran Parliament to study Tehran-Kabul security cooperation bill ISNA, Iran (06/30/2009)

Rights group says voters lose trust in Afghan poll Reuters (06/30/2009)