ISLAMABAD, April 7: The government reiterated on Wednesday that it would not allow US-led forces in Afghanistan to extend their hunt for militants to Pakistani territory.

"This is unnecessary...nor will we allow it," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told the National Assembly to calm down an opposition protest against a statement by the US ambassador to Afghanistan that the US-led coalition forces would move into Pakistani territory to destroy the network of Taliban and other extremist groups if Islamabad could not do the job itself.

MMA's Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri sought a government response in the lower house to the statement that US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad had already retracted. Sheikh Rashid said the government policy was very clear that "we ourselves can deal with our affairs within our borders" and "fulfil our responsibilities" in the US-led war on terrorism.

"There is no need for American or coalition forces" (to do it)," he said about Pakistan's military operations in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to flush out terrorists.