‘Plane in Pak airspace will be downed’

BY SHAFQAT ALI

Islamabad

July 15: Pakistan has made it clear to the allied forces in Afghanistan that any plane violating the country’s airspace will be downed.

"Responsible departments of national security have made it clear to the ISAF that they will give a befitting response to any border and air violation in future," a military official said.

He said that it has been made clear to the US military leadership and the Nato commander in Afghanistan that Pakistan will never allow foreign interference on its territory.

"Despite being a key ally our borders are being bombed and our sovereignty being challenged and such incidents would not be tolerated. Such incidents are not only infuriating the security forces but also the Pakistani people," he said. "We have told them that a wave of fright and fear has gripped the people and it is responsibility of all the allies to control terrorism on the Pak-Afghan border," he added. He said that during a recent high level meeting of national security departments a few days back the Nato and Afghan forces commander were told that looming threat of terrorism is not a responsibility of Pakistan, however, joint efforts are required and in the future if Pakistani posts are attacked and bombed, then the Nato forces would be given a "befitting response".

He said that when allied forces fired at Pakistani post in Angor Adda, the Pakistani forces responded promptly as a result of which more than four troops of the allied forces died or were injured.

Meanwhile, condemning border violation and recent attacks by Nato forces in Pakistan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has underlined that the Nato forces should not interfere in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Also, the allied troops on Tuesday geared up movement on the Pak-Afghan borders in North and South Waziristan, creating panic among the nearby villages.

Hundreds of allied troops armed with their copters, tanks, mortars and high-tech weapons arrived at the Pak-Afghan borders, while the tribesmen viewing the threatening situation have started shifting from the bordering areas, sources said. "The movement along the bordering areas, including Ghulam Khan, Shawal, Amir Chapsar and Alwara, has been significant. Allied forces warplanes have also been seen hovering over these areas," a security official said.

Following the arrival of the allied troops and hovering aircraft, the tribesmen, fearing a war, started evacuating these bordering areas.

On the other hand, Utmanzai tribe leader, Haji Mohammad Afzal announced in a jirga (tribal assembly) that the attack of the allied forces will be countered.

The deployment of Western coalition forces will add to a mounting sense of foreboding in Pakistan that US ground troops could be ordered into Pakistan on covert missions or hot pursuit to eliminate militants fuelling an insurgency in Afghanistan that appears stronger than ever.