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