FO denies hot pursuit report

Published August 14, 2003

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: Pakistan on Wednesday denied reports it had, allowed US forces to pursue Al Qaeda elements into its territory.

“The report is incorrect and baseless,” a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP.

The FO official said that The Washington Post had carried a report that Pakistan had allowed the US forces in Afghanistan to pursue “enemy fighters into Pakistan,” but he gave no details.

The spokesman said: “The clear arrangement between Pakistan and the US is that any Al Qaeda elements within the Pakistani territory will be dealt with by Pakistani troops and law enforcement authorities.”