Zardari condemns US forces infiltrating Pak territory

Lahore, July 14 : PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly condemned the US-led coalition forces infiltrating into the Pakistani territory for carrying out attacks on extremists along the Pak-Afghan border, and suggested to Washington that it should not indulge in talks of "hot pursuit" of militants into Pakistan's Tribal Areas.

He said that since the PPP-led government in Islamabad was just four years old, the US must give it enough time to enact its own policies 'without undue pressure'.

"Pakistan was in favour of the war on terror, but it was unjustified of the US to expect miracles from a four-month old government. Pakistan was against extremism and terrorism as it had lost one of its greatest leaders, Benazir Bhutto, to the twin menaces," the Daily Times quoted Zardari as saying in a TV interview.

He added that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani would take up the issue with US President George Bush during their upcoming meeting.

The PPP co-chairman also said that the war against terrorism was being fought in Pakistan's best interests. However, he added, the country needed to pursue dialogue in FATA, in addition to employing force, because it was facing its own countrymen.

He said the PPP-led government preferred to resolve law and order by taking all parties onboard, rather than through force. He said the country was still paying the price for the policies followed by its former leaders.

ANI