Islamabad: With a deadly NATO air raid
sparking outrage in Pakistan, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said it was time for the country "to review its
relations" while demanding "complete clarity" from the
international community on Islamabad`s sovereignty.
Khar said the US has been issued a notice to vacate the
Shamsi airbase in Balochistan province within 15 days in line
with the cabinet`s decision.
Describing the air raid on border posts in Mohmand Agency
as a breach of sovereignty and a violation of international
law, Khar said, "The time has come to review our relations".
Numerous reports have said that Shamsi airbase, which was
leased to the United Arab Emirates by Pakistan in 1992, is
used by CIA-operated drones.
Angered by Saturday`s cross-border NATO air strike that
killed 24 soldiers, Pakistan asked the US to vacate the
airbase and shut down all NATO supply routes.
Khar told state-run PTV that Pakistan had supported the
world community in the war against terrorism and made "great
sacrifices".
Pakistan`s positive cooperation must be recognised at the
international level and not taken as its "weakness", she said.
The country`s sovereignty and territorial integrity must
be respected at all cost, she said, adding the people and the
government will not tolerate such incidents in future.
"We don`t want any aid or assistance but we want to live
with dignity and honour," she added.
Demanding "complete clarity" from the international
community about Pakistan`s sovereignty, Khar said the country
wanted to move forward with honour and dignity.
She said it was up to "Pakistan`s political forces to
evolve a future strategy keeping in view the current
situation".
PTI
