Pak PM hints at striking back at Nato for intrusion

Oct 02, 2010 - Shafqat Ali |

Islamabad

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said Pakistan will consider “other options” if intrusions into its sovereignty and security are repeated, a statement seen as a hint at striking back in case of space violations by Nato forces.

“I want to assure you and the whole nation through this House that if an intrusion into Pakistan’s security is made, we will think of other options,” Prime Minister Gilani said while speaking in Pakistan’s National Assembly.
Nato has struck four times in recent days, killing civilians and security officials along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan cannot in any way tolerate collateral damage caused by strikes inside Pakistan and will not allow anyone to interfere “in our sovereignty and security”.
“If you do not explain it, compensate or apologise for it. We may consider other options too,” Mr Gilani warned. “We are a responsible nation. Like civilised states, we took up the matter in Brussels and they apologised,” he told the House, adding he also told US senator John Kerry that Pakistan has only intelligence, defence, political and economic cooperation with the US.
He said when defence and intelligence cooperation exists, and “if you have credible and actionable information, you are supposed to share it with our intelligence and defence, and it is not rational that you strike inside Pakistan.”
“You had been in the Army, we are in politics. Like a responsible nation, we have responded to this strike diplomatically and I assure you, if an intrusion is made into Pakistan’s sovereignty, we will think of other options,” he reiterated, quoting his conversation with Senator Kerry.

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