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Pakistan allowed US to conduct limited operations, says ex-FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Sept 29, IRNA

Pakistan-US-Kasuri

Former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has disclosed that Pakistan had allowed the United States to conduct limited operations in the country against al-Qaeda and Taliban-linked militants.

Kasuri had served as foreign minister for five years in the nine-year government of former president Pervez Musharraf (October 1999-August 2008).

Musharraf, who joined the US-led coalition in 2001, resigned on August 18 to avoid impeachment.

"Pakistan had allowed the US to conduct limited operations," Kasuri told Geo-television.

This is the first public conformation of permission to the United States to launch operations in Pakistan against the militants.

Kasuri's statement came days after the US troops entered Pakistan tribal region of Waziristan on September 3, and killed up-to 20 people including women and children.

Former prime minster Nawaz Sharif recently demanded disclosure of all secret agreements with the United States signed by former president Musharraf.

"We could not go to the limits that were demanded by the US," Kasuri said.

Pakistani leaders including President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, insist that foreign are not allowed to operate on Pakistani soil and only Pakistani forces have the right to do so.

Musharraf had allowed the US forces to use Pakistani air bases for attacks on Taliban when the allied forces launched strikes in October 2001.

Majority in Pakistan did not support Musharraf's policy to join the US-led coalition but he made the decision. Some former top army generals say that several military commanders had also opposed Musharraf's stand.

Asked about the on-going army operation against the militants, Kasuri said that Pakistan army was raised to fight India and it will have to get training for guerrilla warfare.

Despite Pakistan's opposition to violation of air space the US spy planes have continued flights over the Waziristan tribal region.

US drones regularly fire missiles on suspected positions in Pakistani tribal region, which also cause civilian casualties.

Last week, Pakistani and the US forces traded fire for five minutes after an American helicopter entered Pakistani air space and Pakistani forces and tribesmen fired shots at the helicopter.

Tribesmen say that they shot down an American helicopter last week after it crossed into Pakistani territory. The army said it apparently crashed due to technical fault and NATO said that the helicopter came down in Afghan area.