July 29, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 25, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 28: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Tariq Majid, has expressed concern over repeated cross-border missile attacks and firing by coalition and Afghan forces and stressed that Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.

“Any violation in this regard could be detrimental to bilateral relations,” he said, during a meeting with Lieutenant General Martin E Dempsey, acting Commander of US Centcom, who had called on him at the Joint Staff Headquarters in Chaklala on Monday.

He also said that Pakistan’s armed forces were capable of handling any challenge to the country’s security.

Referring to recent statements by the Afghan leadership, the JCSC chief said that baseless allegations against Pakistan would affect mutual trust and undermine Pakistan’s efforts in the war against terror.

He stressed the need for a collaborative approach by coalition forces. “We have to give a chance to the political process over the kinetic approach,” he said.

Gen Majid called for developing a broad-based consensus on the strategy adopted by Pakistan to deal with terrorism for a lasting solution to the problem, rather than indulging in the blame-game.

“There is a dire need to break the nexus of drug trafficking in Afghanistan which is the lifeline of terror outfits,” he said.Gen Dempsey and Gen Majid held wide-ranging talks and also exchanged views on the current security environment of the region with focus on situation in Fata and Afghanistan.