June 17, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 12, 1429

ISLAMABAD, June 16: The Foreign Office on Monday summoned the Afghan ambassador to lodge protest over President Hamid Karzai’s threat of military incursion into tribal areas of Pakistan.

The ambassador was told that Afghanistan must refrain from issuing irresponsible statements and respect Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty.

“Afghan Ambassador Anwar Anwarzai was summoned to the Foreign Office where Additional Secretary (Afghanistan) Khalid Khattak lodged a very strong protest on President Karzai’s statement,” Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said.

President Karzai had said on Sunday that because militants crossed over from Pakistan “to come and kill Afghan and coalition troops,” it gave his country the “right to do the same”.

He had warned Pakistan-based Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud that Afghan forces would target him on his home turf.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a separate statement that he would like to make it absolutely clear that Pakistan shall defend its territorial sovereignty.

He said the “war against terrorism” could only be won by showing full respect to territorial sovereignty and pursuing a policy of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

Urging Afghanistan to end blame game, the minister said both countries were confronted with a common enemy in the form of terrorism.

Agencies add: Mr Qureshi said it was regrettable that such a statement had been made at a time when the two sides had agreed to close their ranks in the fight against terrorism.

However, analysts said President Karzai’s threat was more of a tactic to build pressure on Pakistan than a signal of real intent.

“When communication breaks down, opinions get fertilised,” said Awami National Party leader Afrasiab Khattak. “I think it’s high time for them to open communication to avoid any further escalation.”