ISLAMABAD, Sept.13 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Saturday sent its fighter aircraft to the northwestern tribal region as the U.S.-led coalition forces are increasing cross-border raids, local media reported.
The fighter jets conducted flights in North Waziristan tribal region, News Network International (NNI) news agency said. At least 12 people were killed in North Waziristan in a suspected U.S. missile attack on Friday. The coalition forces are increasing their missile and drone attacks on targets inside Pakistan in recent month, blaming Pakistan's local Taliban for rising insurgency in Afghanistan.
Reports said that U.S. President George W. Bush has authorized U.S. raids against militants inside Pakistan without prior approval from the country. The attacks have also caused many camp follower civilian deaths and triggered mounting anger and criticism across the country.
But Pakistan has repeatedly excluded the operation by foreign forces on its territory. Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on Wednesday issued a harsh-wording statement, criticizing the cross-border attacks by the coalition forces from Afghanistan and vowing to defend the country "at all cost".
"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country will be defended at all cost and no external force is allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan," said Kayani. He said there is no any agreement or understanding with the coalition forces whereby they are allowed to conduct operations on Pakistani soil. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Friday Pakistan would take up the unilateral strikes "on diplomatic level". |