ISLAMABAD, July 3: Pakistan has bluntly told the United States that the authority to undertake military action on its territory is the exclusive prerogative of Pakistani armed forces and no country can arrogate that right to itself.

“Nobody has the right to arrogate to himself the right of action on Pakistan’s territory. It is something for Pakistan to decide,” Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said at his weekly press briefing here on Thursday while reacting to a statement made by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Admiral Mullen, who visited Pakistan at least three times this year, stated on Wednesday that he had all the authority he needed for targeting senior Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders in Pakistan’s tribal region.

His statement contrasted with the remarks made in Islamabad the same day by US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher. Mr Boucher said Washington wanted Afghan and Nato-led coalition forces to tackle militants in Afghanistan and Pakistani troops to act on their side of the border.

“Our policy is very clear, and Mr Boucher got it right. Action on Pakistan’s territory is the sole prerogative of Pakistani armed forces,” Mr Sadiq said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will meet his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice next week when he will travel to the United States for discussions with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon on Pakistan’s request for an international probe into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

The foreign minister will go to Washington on July 11 to meet Ms Rice, members of the Congress and senior US officials.

Mr Qureshi will also address the UN Security Council. His speech will focus on Afghanistan and the need for a greater commitment of the West for success against Al Qaeda and Taliban.

His visit will be followed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s first trip to the White House to meet President George Bush on July 28.

“The prime minister’s visit, the first since the formation of the new democratic government in March 2008, will deepen the multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries,” the spokesman.

On Afghanistan’s protest over the beheading of two Afghan refugees by militants in Bajaur Agency and its call for an investigation into the incident, Mr Sadiq said Pakistan was ready for the probe but it needed certain explanations and information about the identity of the victims.

“We have asked the Afghan government to share the information they have about the victims, specifically their names, passport and visa particulars and the purpose for which they were visiting Bajaur Agency. This information, which will be very useful in the conduct of an inquiry, is awaited from the Afghan government,” he said.

Regarding the implementation of recommendations of the Pakistan-India Judicial Committee that had asked both the countries to exchange by July 1 fresh lists of prisoners detained in each other’s jails, the spokesman said: “Pakistan handed over its list to the Indian side on the stipulated date.”

However, India is yet to provide the fresh list of Pakistani prisoners in its jails.