ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: The commander of US and allied forces in Afghanistan General David McKiernan is coming to Pakistan on Thursday to give a special briefing to a select group of parliamentarians.

Sources told Dawn that the commander’s visit was significant because it was being undertaken against the backdrop of protests lodged by Pakistan over continuous violation of its air space by US drones and missile attacks on tribal areas.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani declared in the National Assembly on Tuesday that his government would take up the air space violation with the new US administration.

The briefing by the US general, the sources said, would be arranged at the residence of US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson.

Dawn has learnt that 15 to 20 parliamentarians of various parties, mostly in the ruling coalition, have been invited.

It is believed that the resolution unanimously adopted by the joint session of the two houses of parliament last month has prompted the US general to explain Nato’s position on the drone and missile attacks.The resolution calls for an “urgent review of national security strategy and revisit the methodology of combating terrorism in order to restore peace and stability to Pakistan and the region through an independent foreign policy”.

It also says that “Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity shall be safeguarded”.

The resolution calls for establishing the writ of the state in the troubled region, putting in place confidence-building mechanisms by using local communities and replacing the military as early as possible by civilian law-enforcement agencies with enhanced capacity and a sustainable political system achieved through a consultative process.