Pak says US attacks against militants on its soil unacceptable

ISLAMABAD: Amid US assertions that Osama bin Laden was hiding in its tribal areas, Pakistan on Monday said Washington's threats of possible attacks against militant hideouts on its soil were "ill conceived" and "dangerous", which would "further complicate" their cooperation in war on terror.

No military action from any other country would be allowed within the territory of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here, reacting to statements from American officials in the aftermath of the US National Intelligence Estimate, which said bin Laden and others terrorists have found safe havens in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

"Pakistan can handle its own requirements of troops. We do not need any other troops from anywhere to come and help. The sovereignty, integrity and security (of the country) is responsibility of Pakistan," Aziz said in a TV interview.

He said Pakistan cooperated with many countries on counter-terrorism operations through dialogue and sharing and exchange of information.

"Clearly we cannot allow in Pakistan any group which jeopardises its security and/or security of another country. We are very capable of defending ourselves and securing ourselves. We believe we can handle our responsibilities and continue to cooperate with everybody."

Also, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said: "We have stated in the clearest terms that any attack inside our territory would be unacceptable."

Any "ill conceived action" inconsistent with principles of international law from any quarter could undermine Pakistan's efforts to deal with militants and would be "deeply resented in the tribal areas and generally in Pakistan. Such action, as we have already stated, will be irresponsible and dangerous," she said.

The remarks of Aziz and Aslam came a day after the Bush Administration said it would use the "most effective action" to contain terrorists operating from Pakistan.

White House Homeland Security Adviser Frances Townsend said that even though the US would be working closely with Islamabad, no options are off the table.

US intelligence chief Mike McConnell also said that bin Laden is alive and sheltering in parts of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan.

The US National Intelligence Estimate earlier pointed out that the al Qaeda is regenerating and has taken on a safe haven in northern areas of Pakistan.

US President George W Bush, in his weekly radio address on Saturday, also noted that al Qaeda leaders have found safe havens in tribal areas.

Reacting to the US officials' statements, Aslam told reporters here that "like any other country, we remain deeply concerned over the possibility of al Qaeda or any other terrorist entity establishing a sanctuary or regrouping or regenerating inside our territory. Our government and our security forces are determined not to permit such a development."

"These terrorists have threatened Pakistan, attacked our security forces, killed innocent civilians and targeted our leadership. We are therefore, combating terrorism in our own interest," she said.

Aslam said Pakistan and the US are "partners" in the fight against terrorism and "it would be counter-productive to create an impression of any divergences or differences on the issue of counter-terrorism or take any step detrimental to our counter-terrorism cooperation."

She insisted that "the basis of our cooperation" continued to be that "all counter-terrorism measures inside Pakistan will be taken by our own security forces."

"We are committed and we will take firm action on the basis of information gathered by us through our own means or concrete and actionable intelligence shared with us," Aslam said.

"For the success of our counter-terrorism endeavours, it is important to focus on effective cooperation and coordination rather than talk of actions that would further complicate our ongoing efforts to fight al-Qaeda and other terrorist elements," she said.

Answering questions, Aslam said Pakistan has no information about the whereabouts of bin Laden. "We have already made it clear. We have absolutely no such information."
   
"We have our own intelligence gathering and we take action based on this. If US has any concrete and actionable intelligence to share they should share it with us," she said, adding that it is not enough to say that he is in this part of Pakistan or that.

She termed the question as "hypothetical" when asked about Pakistan's operational preparedness to face any military action from the United States.

Significantly, Aslam defended last year's agreement between Pakistan government and the tribal leaders to contain the movement of foreign militants in north Waziristan. Bush, in his radio address, had termed the deal as a failure.

Aslam said the agreement was part of a strategy, which has political, economic and military components to it. "Our view is that the deal was helpful. The President said even if it worked 20 per cent we would like to pursue."

The deal was unilaterally scrapped by tribal militants after the July 11 military raid on the pro-Taliban Lal Masjid here.

As the Pakistani forces came under heavy attacks by militants in tribal areas, a peace Jirga or Council of Elders held a three-day meeting with representatives of ultras in Dattakhel in Wazirisitan and later went to Peshawar, capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where it continued talks with Governor Gen (retd) Achukzai, who earlier brokered the deal.

The outcome of the talks is expected to be announced on Tuesday.

Aziz said the process of consultation through Peace Committees and Jirgas should be further encouraged through involvement of the people.

He told NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani here on Monday that the security and sovereignty of the country will be protected and maintained at all costs and all stakeholders should work together for a stronger and stable Pakistan.

Durrani heads the Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA) government in NWFP.