ISLAMABAD Jan 9: The secretary-general of Pakistan Tehrik-i- Insaf (PTI), Mairaj Mohammad Khan, has expressed concern over media reports that the government had allowed the US forces to hunt Al-Qaeda and Taliban members who had sought refuge in Pakistan.

He was reacting to US Gen Tommy Franks’ statement that the American forces were now authorized to cross the international borders and enter Pakistani territory in search of Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the PTI leader asked the government to clarify its position regarding the statement of Gen Franks.

He said people were rightly concerned about the increasing presence of the US forces, and their apparent freedom to operate inside Pakistan which he felt could affect the security of the country’s nuclear deterrent.

Commenting on the government’s efforts of curbing extremism, Mr Khan said extremism in any society was damaging. However, he said instead of pressurizing Pakistan, the West should force the fundamentalist BJP government to stop committing atrocities on minorities in India.

He said the nation was concerned about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in and around Pakistan. Already, he said, India-Israeli collusion was becoming more obvious.

He warned that the Indian troops’ buildup on the borders could be part of a grand design to force Pakistan to change its principled stance on Kashmir and roll back the nuclear programme.

He urged the government to immediately hold an All Parties Conference (APC) to discuss the present crisis.

According to him, Pakistan could successfully counter the multi-dimensional threats only through national consensus.