| Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday vowed to re-establish the writ of the government in Swat and the Tribal Areas and invited the opposition to come forward and devise a joint strategy to combat terrorism. “This is our country and we have to protect its sovereignty. I welcome the opposition to come to the Foreign Office and sit together to devise a national foreign policy,” Qureshi said in his speech on the recent attack in Bajaur by the United States allied forces from Afghanistan. Several people were killed in the attack. The minister said Pakistan would not allow sanctuaries and safe heavens for terrorists on its soil. Qureshi said Pakistan was keen to monitor cross-border movement and it had established 1,000 checkposts for the purpose. “As far as the issue of the Bajaur attack is concerned, Pakistan has lodged its protest at every forum. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has taken up the issue with US President George W Bush during their recent meeting in Egypt,” he said. Earlier, former Interior minister Aftab Khan Sherpao condemned the Bajaur attack by allied forces and urged the government to form a policy in this regard. |