President General Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday that only Pakistani forces would conduct operations against suspected militant hideouts in Pakistan. Talking to a delegation led by Commander of Special Operations Command Admiral Eric T Olson, and US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Musharraf expressed concern at statements in the US media that conveyed an impression that NATO forces had the permission to operate inside Pakistani territory. “The president re-emphasised that all operations that are required to be undertaken in Pakistani territory will be executed by the Pakistani forces,” said a statement issued at the end of the meeting.
Admiral Olson, who had seen exercises by Pakistani Special Services Group commandos, told President Musharraf that he was impressed by their professional abilities. He also assured the president of intelligence and operational coordination between the Pakistan Army and NATO forces in Afghanistan. |