Pak protests against US bombing in Bajaur

    Islamabad: Pakistan has lodged a protest with the US ambassador over the missile attack on Bajaur Agency launched from Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least 18 people. A press release of the country's foreign ministry said that Pakistan would also take up the matter in the next meeting of the Tripartite Commission of the militaries of the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan. "The incident is being thoroughly investigated. According to preliminary investigation there was foreign presence in the area. Our armed forces have undertaken large-scale operation against the foreign militants and it remains our responsibility to protect our territory from outside intrusion," the Dawn quoted the release as saying.

   Meanwhile, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam reportedly said Pakistan had summoned the US envoy to the foreign office in protest. "Foreign Secretary Riaz Khan handed over a formal protest to the US ambassador at the foreign ministry this evening," she is learnt to have said. Pakistan Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said that a number of the dead persons appeared to be foreigners "possibly involved in sabotage activities. Most of the bodies were charred. But, we have no information about (Al Qaeda number two Ayman) Al Zawahiri. We are investigating what caused the explosions." On the other hand, the US Defence Department denied that the US military had carried out any attacks in the area. "There is no reason to believe the US military is conducting operations there," said Lt-Col Todd Vician.

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