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Pakistani FM briefs China, Russia on NATO attacks, gov’t decisions

28 November 2011 17:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Monday briefed her Chinese and Russian counterparts on NATO attacks and the decisions taken by the Pakistani government following the strikes which reportedly killed 24 Pakistani troops and injured 13 others, APA reports quoting Xinhua

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar spoke to the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Monday to brief him on the NATO/ISAF attacks and the decisions taken by the Defense Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) on Saturday.

The Foreign Minister had a 40-minute conversation in which she informed her Chinese counterpart of the extreme outrage in Pakistan, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi expressed deep shock and strong concern over the incident and extended condolences to the aggrieved families. He said that Pakistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. He also called for a thorough and serious investigation into the matter.

On Monday evening, the Pakistani Foreign Minister also briefed her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the unprovoked NATO/ISAF attack on Pakistani territory and the decisions taken by DCC.

She underscored that besides being a gross violation of established international norms, such attacks pose a threat to regional peace and stability as well.

Lavrov expressed sympathy for the loss of lives and injuries as well as complete understanding of Pakistan’s position, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He underscored that Pakistan and Russia were partners in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and also partners in promoting regional cooperation. He stressed the need of NATO thoroughly investigating the incident.

On early Saturday morning, NATO fighter jets and gunship helicopters struck two army checkposts in Pakistan’s northwest tribal area of Mohmmand Agency bordering Afghanistan, killing 24 Pakistani troops including two senior officers and injuring 13 others. The incident led to decisions by the Pakistani government to close the supply lines for the NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan through Pakistan and vacate a major U.S. Shamsi airbase in the country’s southwest province of Balochistan within 15 days.