Pakistan Leaders Order Assault on US Soldiers

By Pamela Mortimer

Pakistan’s military has issued an order to take the offensive should U.S. troops continue to conduct cross-border assaults from Afghanistan. On Tuesday, high ranking military officer Adm. Mike Mullen flew to Pakistan with the hope of speaking to senior officials regarding the order.

The orders were the result of a "highly unusual" ground attack by U.S. forces on September 3. Officials have stated that while ground attacks are rare, there have been numerous reports of U.S. drone aircraft hitting military targets. U.S. officials have confirmed the September 3rd attack outside Angoor Ada but have not released many details of the event.

Pakistani officials claim that the raid was responsible for killing about 15 people, all civilians.

"These were truck drivers, local traders and their families," said Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas.

Abbas also said Pakistan's government leaders asked for an explanation. The U.S. response was to offer a "half-page" of "very vague" information that did not reveal the intended target.

Pakistani officials have stated that increased cross-border raids will do no more than to fuel the religious extremism in the country. The Pakistani government has been run by civilian leaders since last month’s forced resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. The current regime insists that they must resolve the conflict with the U.S. through traditional diplomatic procedures.

A spokesman for the Pakistani military told reporters that the orders to take the offensive were taken out of context. Pakistan will only act against the U.S. troops if there is an act of aggression inside the country’s borders.

"We enjoy good cooperation with Pakistan along the border," added Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman. "Pakistan is an ally in the global war on terror."

Abbas told The AP that the orders came after U.S. helicopters transported troops into a military stronghold located in the South Waziristan tribal region.

"The orders are clear," Abbas said in an interview. "In case it happens again in this form, that there is a very significant detection, which is very definite, no ambiguity, across the border, on ground or in the air: open fire."

U.S. military commanders have accused Islamabad of inaction against the recruitment efforts of the Taliban and other militant groups. It is alleged that the military rebels often recruit, train and supply weapons and other goods from Pakistan's tribal regions. The Pakistani government has acknowledged the presence of Al Qaeda fugitives and also professes to have great difficulty in preventing militants from crossing the border into Afghanistan.