September 04, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 3, 1429

WASHINGTON, Sept 3: The United States on Wednesday expressed concern over incidents of “violence in Pakistani politics” while commenting on an apparent assassination attempt on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

“Certainly we have seen violence and attempts at violence in Pakistani politics. And it is certainly of concern to Pakistanis. It’s, of course, a concern to us,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a briefing in Washington.

“We are pleased and relieved that the prime minister is unharmed, as are all of his entourage, as well. I haven’t seen any reports of any casualties,” he added.

Asked if US officials had recently contacted their Pakistani counterparts on this and other incidents of violence, Mr McCormack said: “I’ll let the Pakistani officials speak for their side. Of course, we have, on a daily basis, contact between our embassy and the Pakistani government.”

Asked to comment on Pakistan’s decision to postpone military operations against the militants during Ramazan, Mr McCormack said: “Let me try to get something for you on that.”

Also on Wednesday, a spokesman for the foreign ministry in Islamabad said that a number of people had been killed in a cross-border raid by Nato forces into the tribal area.

“Right, on the latter, I don’t have any information for you,” said Mr McCormack when asked to comment on the reported attack inside Pakistan.

The Pentagon declined comments on Pakistani charges that at least 15 people were killed in a cross-border raid by Afghan-based international forces, adds AFP.

“I don’t have anything for you on those reports,” said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.

A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force said he had no word of such a raid, and that the force does not have a mandate to attack outside the borders of Afghanistan unless its troops come under fire from within Pakistan.