ISLAMABAD, 25 January 2007 — The Pakistani government warned the NATO-led force in Afghanistan yesterday that incidents like this week’s killing of a Pakistani soldier by cross-border fire could hurt cooperation in the “war on terror.”
NATO earlier said it would not accept responsibility, pending an investigation, for Monday’s incident in which Pakistan says foreign troops on the Afghan side of the frontier fired on a Pakistani checkpoint.
The attack was discussed when the head of NATO’s legal office, Baldwin De Vidts, met Pakistani Defense Secretary, retired Lt. Gen. Tariq Waseem Ghazi, a Defense Ministry statement said.
“The secretary conveyed Pakistan’s deep concern over the provocative act and stated that such incidents could jeopardize collaborative partnership in the war on terror,” it said.
The NATO official “conveyed his condolences and expressed hope that such incidents do not take place,” it added. Pakistan summoned the British and US ambassadors to its Foreign Office on Tuesday to lodge a “strong protest” following the attack, in which two Pakistani soldiers were also injured.
NATO spokesman Mark Laity told reporters in the Afghan capital Kabul: “We deeply regret what happened but until we have the investigation that should not be read as saying we did it. We are not assuming responsibility for this incident. That is a job for the investigation.”
NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) admits it carried out an airstrike in the same area but says it was against insurgents moving toward the Pakistan border after a rocket attack on a base in Afghanistan.
Clearing up confusion over such matters would be expedited by an Afghan, ISAF and Pakistan intelligence center formally opening in Kabul today, ISAF spokesman Brig. Richard Nugee told reporters.
The Joint Intelligence Operations Center comprises six intelligence agents from each of the three militaries.
“Sharing intelligence on case by case basis has been happening for some time. By formally opening the center, what we are doing is making that more efficient and more effective for the people of Afghanistan.” In an example of this intelligence sharing, ISAF commander Gen. David Richards has told media that Pakistan played a key role in the Dec. 19 killing of top Taleban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani.
The five-member NATO delegation is also likely to sign an agreement with Islamabad over the provision of transit facility for NATO forces from Pakistan.
