ISLAMABAD, May 12: The North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) on Friday clarified that it would appoint a military liaison officer for Pakistan and not set up an office here.

Clarifying the contents of a news item “Pakistan an emerging strategic partner: Nato” published in Dawn on May 12, Simone de Manso, press officer of Nato press and media section, said: “I wish to clarify that the Deputy Nato Secretary General Allesandro Minuto-Rizzo had stated that Nato would expand its ISAF mission to the south of Afghanistan this summer and we would like to have closer cooperation with Pakistan in this context. We intend to enhance military to military contacts with Pakistan and are working on arrangements for an ISAF military liaison officer in Islamabad.”

He said Nato had no intention to establish an office in Pakistan.