Zardari warns Petraeus on cross-border missile strikes

Zardari warns Petraeus on cross-border missile strikes
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari warned the new US commander for Iraq and Afghanistan on Monday that missile strikes on Pakistani territory were "counterproductive" and detrimental to the so-called "war on terror." The most high-profile protest yet from Islamabad came as General David Petraeus made his first visit here since he took over the position last week, amid claims that it could signal a shift in strategy in Afghanistan.

"Continuing drone attacks on our territory, which result in loss of precious lives and property, are counterproductive and difficult to explain by a democratically elected government," Zardari said. "It is creating a credibility gap," the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan quoted him as saying.

The series of strikes by unmanned drones against suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants hiding in Pakistan's tribal badlands bordering Afghanistan have raised tensions between the two countries.

Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar earlier told Petraeus that Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, warning that future incidents could affect the battle for hearts and minds.

"The frequent drone attacks could ... generate anti-America sentiments as well as create outrage and uproar among the people," Mukhtar's department said in a statement.

Analyst and former Pakistani General Talat Masood said Petraeus' visit could not be underplayed - and was a sign of the increasing focus on Pakistan and disquiet about strategy to combat insurgents in Afghanistan. By appointing Petraeus, credited for progress in the Iraq conflict by the US, Masood said the United States was signaling that it believes "it is not winning in Afghanistan."

"General Petraeus is a professional, he knows it is a different war, he understands the dynamics and he may prevail upon the current and the next US administration to review the policy," he added. "He is probably the most suited person."

A US Embassy spokesman played down claims that Petraeus was here because of fears at a spiral of Islamist violence.

"This was a regular scheduled visit. This is something that has been on the books for quite some time," US Embassy spokesman Wes Robertson said.

Petraeus also met Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and military top brass. - AFP

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