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Pakistan's Criticism Of U.S. Raids Eases

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The Associated Press

Published: September 14, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's government eased its rhetoric Saturday against unilateral U.S. attacks on militant havens near the Afghan border, saying it hopes quiet diplomacy will persuade Washington that the raids only inflame sentiment against leaders of both countries.

Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar claimed Washington already has agreed to curtail its military activities against militants in Pakistan, although a missile strike Friday killed at least 12 people.

Most U.S. cross-border activity has been limited to missiles fired by unmanned drone aircraft. But in a Sept. 3 attack, helicopter-borne U.S. ground forces were used in an operation that killed at least 15, an escalation of U.S. military force.

"As far as my information, we have taken it up at the highest level with the State Department and Pentagon," Mukhtar said in an apparent reference to the United States using ground forces. "They have given us assurance that it would not be repeated."

The White House declined comment on the remarks, as it largely has done since reports emerged Thursday that President Bush secretly approved more aggressive cross-border operations in July as part of a strategy to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Since Aug. 13, there have been at least seven reported missile strikes, as well as the ground forces operation, in tribally governed territory where the government has little control. The border region is considered a likely hiding place for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.

Top government officials indicated Pakistan is trying to avoid an outright confrontation with Washington, its ally and financial supporter, after the main opposition party suggested the country should consider dropping out of the war on terrorism if cross-border attacks continue.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told reporters late Friday that Pakistan would prefer to resolve any issue with Washington through diplomatic channels, adding that the issue will be discussed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York this month.

Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, has vowed to protect the country's sovereignty "at all cost."

Robert Hathaway, director of the Asia program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, said the United States has to be careful not to dismiss the help it is getting from Pakistan.

He called the raid by ground forces a "risky maneuver" and said "too many of these operations will make the Pakistani army less willing to work with us."

72 MILITANTS DEAD

Pakistan's military said Saturday that it killed at least 72 militants in three days of fighting near the Afghan border, where Taliban and al-Qaida militants are thought to be hiding. The army has intensified ground and air attacks in an effort to flush out Taliban and local militants in the Bajur tribal region.

The Associated Press

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