The United States moved to salvage ties with Pakistan after NATO air
The United States moved to salvage ties with Pakistan after NATO air strikes on border outposts killed up to 26 soldiers and plunged relations into crisis, backing a full probe and expressing condolences.
Pakistan said it was reviewing its alliance with the US and NATO after the lethal strike which it branded a violation of international law, summoning the US ambassador Cameron Munter and warning of serious repercussions.
It also announced the closure of its Afghan border to NATO, shutting down a supplies lifeline for 130,000 US-led foreign troops fighting the Taliban, and called on the US to leave a remote air base reportedly used by CIA drones.
The NATO force in Afghanistan admitted it was “highly likely” that its aircraft caused the deaths in Saturday’s pre-dawn strike, inflaming US-Pakistani relations still reeling from the May killing of Osama bin Laden.
The US commander in Afghanistan promised a full investigation and sent his condolences over any troops “who may have been killed” on the Afghan border with Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt, branded an Al-Qaeda hub by Washington.
Pakistani PM Yusuf Raza Gilani said, “We will be like a rock solid wall. I discussed the matter with Chaudhry Nisar, leader of the opposition, and also with Imran Khan, and have been talking to other Pakistani leaders. That’s why our nation has become united in defence of the country. We will not allow to anybody to attack our country.”
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bolstered that message in a joint statement Sunday, offering their “deepest condolences” and backing “NATO’s intention to investigate immediately.”
At the same time Pakistan, battling its own Taliban insurgency in the northwest and dependent on billions of dollars in US aid, gives the US-led war effort in Afghanistan vital logistics support.
In September 2010, Pakistan shut the main land route for NATO supplies at Torkham for 11 days after accusing NATO of killing three Pakistani troops.
The border was reopened after the United States formally apologized.
Source AFP