Pakistan’s sovereignty must not be violated: Envoy

Pakistan’s sovereignty and independence should not be violated under any circumstances, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khan has said.

Khan said Pakistan is committed to continuing cooperation with the international community in the war against terrorism despite last month’s NATO attack and emphasized that the country’s core interest will be protected at all costs.

“That’s a priority,” Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Khan as saying in Beijing.

The Nov 26 NATO airstrikes on two Pakistani Army checkposts in Mohmand Agency left 24 soldiers dead. Islamabad was quick to act and cut off NATO supplies through the country, besides ordering the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase. Pakistan also boycotted an international conference that focussed on Afghanistan's future.

“Let me define the core interests, Pakistan’s sovereignty and independence should not be violated under any circumstances. Our innocent and valiant soldiers who are there to defend our borders should not have been killed,” the Pakistani envoy told China Daily Thursday.

“We do not want any cracks in this coalition that has been formed by the international community," he added.

He said there is a mechanism in place, and a tripartite military commission, headed by senior military officers of the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan should work. 

“We have a protocol and procedure for communication, this procedure should have been respected,” he said.