Pakistan protests against air, territorial violations by NATO

Pakistan today conveyed to the US its "profound concern" over increasing drone attacks and violation of the country's airspace by NATO and ISAF aircraft, saying its partners in the war on terror should respect its territorial sovereignty.

The concerns were conveyed by president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to visiting CIA chief Leon Panetta.

Panetta, who also met Inter-Services Intelligence agency chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, is in the country amidst growing concerns about a global terror plot traced back to Pakistan.

Panetta conveyed the readiness of the US to further strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two sides in intelligence-sharing.

He conceded that the UN had only given the mandate to NATO and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to act within Afghan territory and assured Gilani that the US government would look into the intrusions into Pakistani territory.

NATO and ISAF helicopters have carried out at least four air strikes on Pakistani territory this week. The latest attack today killed three Pakistani soldiers.

Gilani underscored the importance of intelligence-sharing and cooperation between Pakistan and the US, and said American and international forces in Afghanistan should share credible and actionable information with Pakistan's troops to enable them to take action against possible threats in the border areas.

Pakistan is a front-line ally in the war against terror and expects its partners to respect its territorial sovereignty, Gilani said.

Zardari said Pakistan "strongly disapproves any incident of violation of its sovereignty."

Any violation of internationally agreed principles is counter-productive and unacceptable, he told Panetta.

Islamabad has strongly protested against the air strikes, saying they are unacceptable.

Gilani expressed regret over a New York Times report about the Pakistan Army's unhappiness over the performance of the civilian government and assertions made about Pakistan in journalist Bob Woodword's book "Obama's Wars".

He "stressed the need of positive messaging from the US about Pakistan rather than planted negative comments which create mis perceptions and mistrust."

The premier also conveyed the disappointment of the people and government of Pakistan over the "excessive and unfair" sentence given to Pakistani terror suspect Afia Siddiqui by a US court last week.

He rued the fact that his government's efforts to persuade the US for her repatriation were ignored.

The sentencing had fuelled anti-American sentiments in Pakistan, Gilani contended.

Siddiqui was sentenced to 86 years in prison or attacking American security personnel in Afghanistan.

Gilani told the CIA chief that Pakistan remained committed to the war on terror despite the catastrophic floods in the country and the "precarious economic situation."

Hr noted statements from the West about a possible terrorist attack from Pakistan’s tribal region and reaffirmed his government's commitment to foil any possible plot if it is provided credible information.

During their meeting, president Zardari and Panetta discussed cooperation in the fight against militants and the security situation in the region.

Zardari said the fight against militancy remains the highest priority and the government is determined to pursue this struggle till its logical end.

Zardari said there is a need to enhance trust, cooperation and coordination at the strategic, policy and operational planes. Capacity enhancement of Pakistan's security apparatus is very crucial, he added.