Violation of Pak’s sovereignty “unacceptable,” Zardari warns US

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has warned the United States that any violation of his country’s sovereignty would be “unacceptable”.

During a meeting with the Central Investigative Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that enhanced trust, cooperation and coordination were required at the strategic, policy and operational levels to strengthen the bi-lateral ties between the two countries.

Zardari reportedly stressed that the government strongly disapproved of any incident of violation of its sovereignty.

“Any violation of internationally agreed principles is counter productive and unacceptable,” The Daily Times quoted Zardai, as saying.

Prime Minister Gilani also expressed concern over the increasing drone attacks and violation of Pakistan’s airspace by NATO and ISAF helicopters.

Underscoring the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation between both the countries, Gilani stressed that the US and ISAF forces should share credible and actionable nformation with Pakistan’s forces and enable them to take required action against possible threats in the bordering areas with Afghanistan.

He, however, backed the President and said that Pakistan being a front-line ally in the war against terror, expects its partners to respect its territorial sovereignty.

Both Zardari and Gilani conveyed Pakistan’s disappointment over the excessive and unfair tenure of sentence given to Dr Aafia Siddiqui by a US court last week.

Gilani said that despite the catastrophic floods and consequent precarious economic situation, his country remained resolutely committed to the war against terror, because this was the only way to establish peace, stability and economic development, not only in Pakistan, but the world as a whole. (ANI)