Pakistan orders troops to open fire if US raids across the border again

Pakistan orders troops to open fire if US raids across the border again

www.huffingtonpost.com

Pakistan's military has ordered its forces to open fire if U.S. troops launch another air or ground raid across the Afghan border, an army spokesman said Tuesday.

The orders, which come in response to a highly unusual Sept. 3 ground attack by U.S. commandos, are certain to heighten tensions between Washington and a key ally against terrorism. Although the ground attack was rare, there have been repeated reports of U.S. drone aircraft striking militant targets, most recently on Sept. 12.

Pakistani officials warn that stepped-up cross-border raids will accomplish little while fueling violent religious extremism in nuclear-armed Pakistan. Some complain that the country is a scapegoat for the failure to stabilize Afghanistan.

Pakistan's civilian leaders, who have taken a hard line against Islamic militants since forcing Pervez Musharraf to resign as president last month, have insisted that Pakistan must resolve the dispute with Washington through diplomatic channels.

However, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told The Associated Press that after U.S. helicopters ferried troops into a militant stronghold in the South Waziristan tribal region, the military told field commanders to prevent any similar raids.

"The orders are clear," Abbas said in an interview. "In case it happens again in this form, that there is a very significant detection, which is very definite, no ambiguity, across the border, on ground or in the air: open fire."

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Lovely... just plain lovely. So much for allies huh?

The thing is however Pakistan would be in their rights to do so and are correct in their claim that such raids won't accomplish much other than give fuel to the extremists and outrage the local population.

Still if Pakistan won't do anything about the Taliban and Al Qeada in ther territory what other options are there?

www.huffingtonpost.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by grover


It's not a question of whether or not pakistan is doing what's needed to be done in it's borders to squelsh 'terrorist'. What is important is that US troops, shot and killed pakistan civilians, and now it's wrong for them to protect them? (even being allies)

If the shoes was on the other hand, we would expect our troops to protect our civilians.

You have a criminal in your country, he has a family, and the police have done NOTHING.

I will now invade your country illegaly with the army and start a firefight to kill this man, during the fight some of his family members will also be killed.

I will then simply leave your country and go home...


I can't see America just accepting that to be honest, America created these enmies, and is only creating more by invading other countries to get them...

The way I see it is that the battle is against Afghanistan, inAfghanistan.

The Pakistan border should have nothing to do with this. Once someone has crossed the border it is Pakistan's business.

Maybe Pakistan and the US should be communicating better, or be setting up measures that prevent such conflicts with each other. They aresupposed 'allies', after all.