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Pakistan army chief criticizes US crossborder raid
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-11 09:26 Three Pakistani intelligence officials identified the foreign militants as Abu Qasim, Abu Musa, Abu Hamza and Abu Haris. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of their jobs' sensitivity. Abu Haris led al-Qaida efforts in the tribal areas, while Abu Hamza led activities in Peshawar, the main northwest city, according to the intelligence officials, who said they got the details from informants and agents in the field. Two US officials said the strike was carried out by the CIA. The American officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss CIA operations. Parties that won February elections forced Pervez Musharraf to quit as president last month. The military, which has dominated Pakistan for much of its 61-year history, has said it will follow the lead of the new civilian government. But in Wednesday's statement, Kayani let loose his his first public criticism of American policy _ a measure of the sensitivity surrounding US military action on Pakistani soil, even in the tribal belt where the state has minimal control. "The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country will be defended at all cost and no external force is allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan," Kayani said. In the latest violence, the army said its troops and secuirty forces killed more than 31 militants in two volatile regions along the Afghan border. In the Dir region, also near the border, police said a bomb killed 10 people in a mosque. |
