subject: Pakistan condemns NATO incursions into its territory [print this page] Entry of NATO aircraft fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan into Pakistan territory has given a new dimension to the Afghan conflict. Apache helicopters from the US air force, a part of the NATO forces regularly enter Pakistani air space on the Afghan border in what they term as hot pursuit of insurgents. A covert CIA military force in Afghanistan crossing into Pakistan to kill Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists has only compounded the issue.
While border crossing by unmanned drones from the US air force have not invited strong denunciation and are let off with a token official objection, Pakistan's foreign Ministry has strongly condemned manned incursions as clear violations and a breach of the UN mandate under which the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operates. Pakistan has hinted that if immediate corrective measures are not taken it may be compelled to consider response action to such incursions into its territory. Entry of heavily armed US aircraft into its territory whether in pursuit of terrorists or otherwise is resented and viewed with suspicion by a nation which believes that its nuclear arsenal has made it the next military target of the US after Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the words of Mehmood Shah leading military analyst and top military official for the tribal area "They must be warned: the next time you do this it can lead to war. Our units must be deployed to fire upon them. The border has sanctity, NATO must realize that they have a mandate to operate in Afghanistan not Pakistan". While NATO is trying to justify these aerial incursions as acts of self-defence or 'hot pursuit' which are justified under international law, Pakistan is compelled to take a strong stand since it fears that its arch rival in the East, India which is also fighting terrorists on the common border could use the same logic and reasoning to cross into its territory.
These incursions are adding to the woes of a government which is being increasingly viewed as fragile and pro-west and is already fighting for its survival. Marvi Memmen a member of the opposition has lambasted that self defence is not an excuse to violate Pakistani airspace and its sovereignty and has demanded if a behind the screen agreement has been arrived with the NATO for allowing such incursions.
The Afghan government has been condemning Pakistan for a long time for being a haven, sanctuary and training ground and a source of financial sustenance for terrorists aiming their guns against it. According to an Afghan military release while they did not believe in attacking a third country, cross fire into Pakistani territory becomes unavoidable so long as insurgents open fire from across its borders compelling retaliatory firing. The release however added that great care should be taken to ensure that there are no civilian casualties during such self defence strikes.
Pakistan condemns NATO incursions into its territory
