Pakistan stops NATO supply to Afghanistan after air-strikes

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 30, 2010 (Xinhua) --

Pakistan, following a number of NATO forces air strikes in Pakistani territory, has sealed Pak- Afghan border on Thursday for the NATO supply to Afghanistan, local Urdu channel Dunya TV reported.

The TV channel, while quoting official sources, said that senior security officials had ordered the forces deployed at Torkham border to block oil tankers and trucks carrying NATO supplies at a checkpoint sharing border with Afghanistan.

According to reports, this decision was taken after an alleged NATO air strike hit a Pakistani force border post which killed three soldiers and injured others.

Media reported that, CIA chief John Panetta was currently in meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday to discuss different issues including NATO airstrikes in Pakistan.

Pakistan's foreign office two days ago strongly protested ISAF/ NATO on aerial attacks from the Afghanistan side into Pakistani territory by ISAF/NATO helicopters which killed 35 people in two separated incidents.

Three security personnel killed by NATO helicopters in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 30, 2010 (Xinhua) --

At least three security personnel were killed as NATO helicopters struck at a check post in northwest Pakistan's tribal area on Thursday morning, reported local media Express.

Express quoted security sources as saying that NATO helicopters crossed into Kurram tribal region from Afghanistan and hit a Pakistani border post.

It is the third NATO airstrike in Pakistani tribal region in a week.

On Sept. 26 and 27, NATO helicopters shelled Pakistani areas and claimed killing of some 50 insurgents.

A NATO spokesman in Afghanistan said this week that the airstrikes into Pakistan were carried out after the militants attacked a small Afghan security outpost near the border.

The spokesman justified the rare NATO strikes based on "the right of self-defense."

Pakistan had strongly protested to ISAF/NATO on the two incidents of aerial engagements from Afghanistan.

Pakistan considers these incidents as clear violation and breach of the UN mandate under which ISAF operates, adding that its mandate "terminates/finishes" at the Afghanistan border.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that a high level meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday to consider the NATO violations.

Editor: Xiong Tong

Irate tribesmen protest as Pakistan cautiously roars back against NATO violations

by Syed Moazzam Hashmi

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 30, 2010 (Xinhua) --

Irate tribesmen pulled the shutter down Thursday, observing a complete strike in the Pakistani tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, protesting civilian casualties in the rising drone strikes.

An early Thursday morning killing of three troops, in a NATO offensive in violation of Pakistani airspace, raises anti- Americanism mercury as CIA chief met leadership in the capital city.

"It's an open violation," northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Governor Owais Ghani roared as he commented over the violation of Pakistani airspace by NATO gunship helicopters that attacked a Pakistani security checkpoint killing three paramilitary troops and injuring an equal number at 5.25 a.m. ( local time) while a second violation of airspace occurred in the afternoon in Kurram area as Pakistani authorities were tossing heads for a reaction.

Curfew had also been imposed as a preventive measure to a possible reaction of tribesmen in Yakaghand bazaar in Dattakhel sub-district in the north Waziristan tribal area, the prime target of current consistent drone attacks.

Meanwhile, entry of the NATO supply trucks had also been banned in Khyber tribal region bordering Afghanistan in view of possible attacks. The containers were also returned to the provincial capital Peshawar for safety, as over 100 NATO truck had been destroyed in various terrorist attack during this year.

Strongly condemning the highhandedness of NATO forces, the governor of the insurgency-plagued northwest province which is front-line of the U.S.-led war against terror reacted, "We'll have to reconsider policy on war on terror."

"It's attack on Pakistan's sovereignty," Ghani said while assuring tribesmen that their lives and properties would be protected, as the rugged tribal areas were inflicted with 22 drone strikes in September killing almost 140 people, mostly civilians.

Although, some high value targets were also perished in the attacks such as Al-Fateh Al Masri who led Al-Qaeda's network in Pakistan. However, over 25:1 ratio of civilians casualties to one suspected militants had attracted worldwide condemnation including the United Nations and prominent human rights watchdogs.

"Our aircraft entered Pakistan in self defense," said a NATO statement, as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Chief Leon Panetta met Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Miniter Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani reassuring war-on-terror ties before leaving for India Thursday evening.

While Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan's stance in its controversial front-line ally role in the war against terror, he assured the CIA chief that fight against terrorism is among Pakistan's top priorities.

However, the widening gulf of unfavorable public opinion and the country' deepening involvement in the saga of war on terror and the plight of damage to civilian lives and properties. It seems to have intensify the tug-of-war on opinions in this regard amid sharply rising anti-Americanism and rising controversies in elected government's capacity in wisely handling the worsening situation, local analysts believed.

Denying comment over the NATO airspace violation early on Thursday, Pakistani foreign office passed the buck on to the shoulders of Pakistani military spokesman that had confirmed the incident. However, later in the afternoon foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit broke the silence saying that NATO and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) must respect its mandate.

"Pakistan will not allow violation of its airspace," Basit told local media adding that investigations into NATO cross border violation is underway.

Pakistani Interior Miniter Rehman Malik said, "We are peaceful. " But, he added, "It would go beyond just the protests."

"Now, we need to differentiate between friends and the foes," Malik responded to local reporters, which local watchers believe would be a mere political face-saving statement, as the controversial NATO focusing on Pakistani tribal areas in Al-Qaeda trophies hunt is expected to intensify rather than subdue.

Editor: Mu Xuequan