Unprovoked attack, says an angry Islamabad
Pakistan-U.S. relations were back on a collision course after 24 Pakistan Army soldiers were killed and 13 injured in a dead-of-the-night attack by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) helicopters on border posts in the Mohmand tribal agency.
Later on Saturday, Pakistan asked the U.S. to vacate the Shamsi Airbase within 15 days and closed all NATO supply lines running through the country as an immediate response to the attack. It also decided to revisit all cooperation arrangements with the coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Trucks ferrying supplies and oil to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan were stopped on Saturday morning itself, protests were registered with NATO and the U.S. and an emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet was called to formulate a response to the “unprovoked” attack that “constituted a grave infringement of Pakistan's sovereignty.”
On the instructions of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir “called in” U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter to lodge a strong protest. According to the Foreign Office, Mr. Munter was informed that the attack had deeply incensed the people of Pakistan. Describing the attack as violative of international law, he warned that this serious transgression of the oft-conveyed red lines could have serious repercussions on Pakistan-U.S./NATO/ISAF cooperation.
Protest lodged
A strong protest has also been lodged in Washington and the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Ironically, on Friday, ISAF Commander John Allen met Chief of the Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to discuss matters concerning coordination, communication and procedures between the Pakistan Army, the ISAF and the Afghan Army with a view to enhancing border control.
Condemning the attack, Gen. Kayani said in a statement that Pakistani troops responded to the “aggression” with available weapons and directed that necessary steps be undertaken for an effective response to this “irresponsible” act. The Army, however, did not elaborate what these steps were.
U.S., NATO regret
While the ISAF and the U.S. expressed regrets for the loss of life and said the matter would be “thoroughly investigated,” reports from Kabul suggested that the helicopters were called in to support troops during an incident near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
PTI reports from London:
NATO said on Saturday it was “highly likely” that its aircraft were responsible for the raid.
Conveying his condolences, NATO spokesman Birgadier-General Carsten Jacobson told the BBC that the coalition force deployed in Afghanistan was investigating the incident.
Keywords: NATO helicopter attack, Mohmand tribal area, Pak-Afghan border, Afghan war, AfPak, Pakistan-U.S. ties
so now pakistan knows how we feel when they attack on our posts.
terrorism and state wont mix togeter.and now pakistan knows how we feel when they do such kind of attacks on our posts
It is an open secret that the Pakistan Army and its ISI proxy forces have killed
hundreds of NATO soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan. NATO commanders have
reported several situations where so-called Taliban fighters launched attacks on
Afghanistan and retreated across the Durand Line with firing cover from Pakistan
Rangers and Army personnel. Unless ISI ends its support for anti-Kabul factions,
these incidents are bound to recur.
Hope Pakistan will see through the wisdom of friendship with the Land of the Gays. US has the highest divorce rates in the world.Every second marriage ends in a divorce in California. Drug usage is rampant in USA schools/colleges. American kids avoid Math and Science. In the name of second amendment everyone can buy Guns, so on the road no one honks the car for the fear of road rage. Because of the efficient police system women divorce easily and because food technology is very good men do not need women.A mutant society demanding Gay Marriage rights has been created.Corporate America exploits its people and the Republican party is a party of rich Wall Street fat cats. Workers have no rights and there is no labor protection.I am worried about the situation in America.
The current establishment of the Pakistan are more loyal than kings for America and its allies. They have their all sympathies with America and its allies and have killed their coscience and expecting any good thing from them for the people of Pakistan is simply foolish. All such reactions are temporary. It is the people of the Country who have the role to play as has been done by people in Egypt, Tunasia, Yemen and Libaya. It is high time for the People of Pakistan to overthrow such enemies of the people and bring prople who are sincere and committed at the helm of affairs. Once that thing happens, America and its allies are certain to receive good responses as they deserve. Moreover it looks the Army of Pakistan has lost its faith and courage and have completely surrendered to Americian and allied forces. In such situations military action from Pakistan side would have been the most appropriate one followed by blockage of supplies etc otherwise it would be cosidered as a cowardice.
This is not the first time that the 'occupying forces' in Pakistan has flexed their muscles. Osama bin Laden was killed by the American forces under the very nose of Pakistani military and there has been a few killings by the unmanned drones. Every time, Pakistani leadership thumped their chests and gave longwinded speeches and interviews. The responses from the 'Occupying Forces' was colateral damage. Pakistan deserves what it fot, when you hunt with the fox expect you to be its next meal. NATO got this golden oppurtunity of monitoring China from close quarters in the form of liberating Afghanistan.
This kind of act/incidents(diplomatically accidental)are not rare from the hands of US or NATO. These western forces had given very less values to the lives of other nationals. They always preach about human rights and environment, that consideration never come when they act. They had always acted deliberately. When we take the stock of all the incidents that happened in the middle east from Iraq to Libya this dual standard is clearly visible.
It is time for Kiyani to put his boot down and sort out all the traitors hiding in our midst. Shutting down Shamsi air base is a giant leap forward, let us close the NATO supply lines for good. We have no stake in the current Afghan war, it is a war between religious fanatics and racial fanatics.
We know 'Time' is precious but 'life' is more precious. And, loss of life is sad to all peace loving people world over whether it is men in uniform or ordinary folks. This appears to be a professional error anda tech. fault. NATO and Pak should ensure no recurrence of such incidents and get on with their mission.
1).Very sad for Pakistan, since the last president, Pakistan is breaking apart. Its ruling goverment could not make a good choice when dealing with forgien policies esp involving partnership with USA and NATO. 2).Pakistan, stop killing your own people and do not trade the so called US financial aids to allow the killing of your own citizen. Put the interest of your people ahead of personal interest. We do not want to see another Lybian Style Uprising in Pakistan. 3).You should learn something from China or from your neighbour India how to make your country prosperous.Educate your people well and in turn they will help your motherland stand high.
This is one of the problems when dealing with a country who's own government and military supports terrorist groups. How can one differentiate between 'good' and 'bad' when they are intermixed? Too bad this happened, hopefully this will be an impetus for the Pakistani's to stop their state support of terrorists.
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