Pakistan summons U.S. envoy over NATO strikes

Pakistan summons U.S. envoy over NATO strikes
 Pakistani Foreign Secretary summoned the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan and lodged a formal protest Saturday over the NATO helicopter strikes on border posts which killed 24 soldiers, said the Foreign Ministry.

"On instructions from Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Foreign Secretary today called in U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter to lodge a strong protest on the unprovoked NATO/ISAF attack on Pakistan border posts in the Mohmand Agency," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The Foreign Secretary conveyed to the U.S. 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 had deeply incensed the government and the people of Pakistan, it said.

"The President, the Prime Minister and the Government of Pakistan strongly condemn the attacks which were totally unacceptable, constituted a grave infringement of Pakistan's sovereignty, were violative of international law and a serious transgression of the oft conveyed red lines and could have serious repercussions on Pakistan-US/NATO/ISAF cooperation," said the statement.

The statement said the ambassador was informed that the Prime Minister had 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.

"Strong protest has also been lodged in Washington and at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels," the statement said.

Earlier the U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter "expressed regret" over the killing of Pakistani security personnel in strikes by NATO helicopters in the county's border region, the U.S. embassy said.

"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," ambassador Munter said in a statement.

Pakistan Army Chief Saturday condemned NATO/ISAF strikes as " blatant and unacceptable act" resulting in loss of precious lives of Pakistani soldiers," an army statement said.

"While lauding the effective response by the soldiers of Pakistan Army in self defence, he directed that all necessary steps be undertaken for an effective response to this irresponsible act," General Kayani said.

Giving details of the incident, the army statement said that on late Friday night and early Saturday morning NATO helicopters and fighter aircraft carried out unprovoked firing on two Pakistan Army border posts in Mohmand Agency, in which 24 troops were killed and 13 were injured.

"Pakistani troops effectively responded immediately in self defence to NATO/ISAF's aggression with all available weapons," the statement said.

Earlier local media reports said that 28 Pakistani troops including two officers were killed and some 15 others injured in the NATO attack.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

English.news.cn   2011-11-26 23:51:22 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua)