ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) troops have a legal status to remain in Pakistan for 90 days, Polish Ambassador to Pakistan Bodgan Marczewski said here on Thursday.

“Certain documents to this effect had been signed between the Nato secretary-general and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan,” Mr Marczewski said at a press conference.

He did not however divulge the details of the documents signed, saying that these were too technical in nature.

He made it clear that the number of Nato troops in Pakistan would not go beyond 1,000 and said the operation was meant for 90 days and Nato had no plan to unilaterally extend it.

“If it is going to happen, it can only be on the request of the Government of Pakistan,” he categorically stated.

Alluding to controversial press statements about the role of Nato’s troops in Pakistan, he said the organization’s forces were not conducting any military operation and the mission was purely humanitarian.

He said the fact that the advance team of Nato was being commanded by a vice admiral of the US Navy did not mean that Nato was being controlled by the United States.

“Such decisions are taken by the Nato headquarters,” he said.

The ambassador said about 140 Polish engineers and doctors together with heavy construction equipment would be deployed in village of Arja, near Bagh, Azad Kashmir. They will help rebuild the infrastructure damaged in the earthquake.

Twelve consecutive flights will come to Islamabad everyday to complete the transportation of heavy machinery by November 21.

The current cost of the operation was estimated at about $10 million, but together with Nato relief operation, which Poland is part of, it will reach over $30 million.

He said the cost of the entire operation would be borne by Nato-member countries.

Answering a question, Mr Marczewski said Poland might leave behind some of the equipment to meet long-term reconstruction needs of Pakistan when Nato forces leave the country.