The New York Times has reported that President Bush secretly approved orders in July that allowed US forces in Afghanistan to carry out assaults inside Pakistan without the prior approval of the Pakistan government. The fact that such orders have been given to the US forces in Afghanistan is manifested by the increasing number of attacks inside Pakistani territory. In one recent attack 12 people were killed and 14 others injured when a US drone fired missiles at a non-functional school building in North Waziristan.
The government of Pakistan has been saying that they will not allow anyone to carry out operations inside Pakistani territory. The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, General Ashfaque Pervez Kayani had also said in a recent statement that the army would not allow any country to conduct operations inside Pakistan. The prime minister of Pakistan has also said in a press statement that only Pakistan has the right to conduct operations inside Pakistani territory. We are also hearing tall claims about national sovereignty and territorial integrity from all and sundry in Pakistan. All words but no action. The US officials have been saying for the past many months that they will chase Taliban and Al Qaeda elements inside Pakistan, but perhaps it was not taken seriously in Pakistan.
The warnings of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US army, Mike Mullen, were also not taken seriously. We keep on hearing the same old rhetoric that no one will be allowed to enter Pakistani territory. It is time that some action is also taken. But I don’t think that the government of Pakistan is in a position to challenge US.
The New York Times has reported that President Bush secretly approved orders in July that allowed US forces in Afghanistan to carry out assaults inside Pakistan without the prior approval of the Pakistan government. The fact that such orders have been given to the US forces in Afghanistan is manifested by the increasing number of attacks inside Pakistani territory. In one recent attack 12 people were killed and 14 others injured when a US drone fired missiles at a non-functional school building in North Waziristan.
The government of Pakistan has been saying that they will not allow anyone to carry out operations inside Pakistani territory. The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, General Ashfaque Pervez Kayani had also said in a recent statement that the army would not allow any country to conduct operations inside Pakistan. The prime minister of Pakistan has also said in a press statement that only Pakistan has the right to conduct operations inside Pakistani territory. We are also hearing tall claims about national sovereignty and territorial integrity from all and sundry in Pakistan. All words but no action. The US officials have been saying for the past many months that they will chase Taliban and Al Qaeda elements inside Pakistan, but perhaps it was not taken seriously in Pakistan.
The warnings of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US army, Mike Mullen, were also not taken seriously. We keep on hearing the same old rhetoric that no one will be allowed to enter Pakistani territory. It is time that some action is also taken. But I don’t think that the government of Pakistan is in a position to challenge US.