Islamabad: Terming last month`s NATO air
strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers as an infringement of
the country`s territorial integrity, Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani on Tuesday reiterated his government`s resolve to
defend the national frontiers.
The Pakistan government had taken a "clear stance on
the NATO attack that the infringement on the territorial
integrity of Pakistan was unacceptable", Gilani said during a
meeting with Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen
Khalid Shameem Wynne.
The people stood by the armed forces and were ready to
"offer any sacrifice in defence of the national frontiers",
he said.
The resolutions adopted at a joint session of both houses
of parliament and at a meeting of all political parties
"clearly manifested the national resolve to protect the
security of the country", he remarked.
Gilani and Wynne, the second highest ranking officer of
the military, discussed the overall security situation in the
country in the aftermath of the NATO attack on two military
border posts on November 26.
"Pakistan wants peace and friendly relations with other
countries based on mutual respect and national interests
stemming from the best practices of diplomacy," Gilani said.
Wynne said Pakistan`s security forces were "fully alert
to defend the country" and that "any amount of sacrifice would
be rendered to preserve and uphold the sanctity" of the
country.
Pakistan angrily responded to the air strike by closing
all NATO supply routes and asking the US to vacate the Shamsi
airbase, reportedly used by CIA-operated drones.
It is also carrying out a review of the terms of
cooperation with the US and NATO.
PTI
