Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday condemned the
burning of Qurans at the biggest US military base in
Afghanistan, an incident that has fuelled violent protests in
the neighbouring country claiming 14 lives.
"The government and the people of Pakistan condemn the
desecration of the holy Quran in the strongest possible
terms," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly
news briefing in response to a question.
"The US has apologised at the highest level and assured of
a full enquiry. It is absolutely important that such utterly
irresponsible and reprehensible acts do not recur," he said.
The US-led military coalition in Afghanistan has
acknowledged that several Qurans were sent by mistake to a
garbage burn pit at Bagram Air Field near Kabul on February
19.
Two American soldiers are among the 14 people who have
died in violent protests over the incident.
US President Barack Obama yesterday apologised for the
burning of the Qurans in a letter to Afghan President Hamid
Karzai.
"The error was inadvertent; I assure you that we will take
the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to include
holding accountable those responsible," Karzai`s office quoted
Obama as saying.
Following the incident, the Taliban called on Afghans to
retaliate against the US-led troops in Afghanistan.
There have also been small protests by hardline religious
groups in some cities of Pakistan.
PTI
