ISLAMABAD: On the instructions of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Saturday called in US Ambassador Cameron Munter to lodge a strong protest on the unprovoked Nato attack on Pakistan border posts in the Mohmand Agency.
The secretary conveyed to the US ambassador that the unprovoked attack by Nato/Isaf aircraft on border posts, in which 24 Pakistani troops lost their lives and another 13 were injured, had deeply incensed the government and the people of Pakistan, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The president, prime minister and the government of Pakistan strongly condemn the attacks which were totally unacceptable, constituted a grave infringement of Pakistan's sovereignty, were violative of international law and a serious transgression of the oft conveyed red lines and could have serious repercussions on Pakistan-US/Nato/Isaf cooperation”, the statement said.
The Ambassador was informed that the prime minister had convened an emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet to evaluate the situation arising from these uncalled for attacks by Nato/Isaf forces.
Strong protest has also been lodged in Washington and at the Nato Headquarters in Brussels, the statement added.
On the other hand, Munter expressed regret for the loss of life in cross-border Incident in Mohmand Agency.
In a statement issued by US embassy, Munter says “I have seen press accounts of an incident on the Pakistani-Afghan border in which Pakistani soldiers were reportedly killed.
I regret the loss of life of any Pakistani servicemen, and pledge that the United States will work closely with Pakistan to investigate this incident.”
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