Pak PM says next US Prez must stop air attacks on tribal areas

Islamabad, Nov 5 : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has appealed to the next US President to halt missile strikes on suspected Taliban targets in northwest Pakistan or risk failure in efforts against terrrorism.

Gilani said that visiting US General David Petraeus 'looked convinced' when he warned him the strikes were inflaming anti-American sentiment within Pakistan, but that he got no guarantee that they would end.

"No matter who the president of America will be, if he doesn't respect the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan ... anti-America sentiments and anti-West sentiment will be there," the Daily Times quoted Gilani as saying.

A frustrated-looking Gilani said that the attacks were "uniting the militants with the tribes".

He said the US should co-operate with Pakistan's military, sharing intelligence, to allow Pakistan to go after the targets itself.

He also said the missile strikes served as a distraction to Pakistan's own military operations. "Their strategy is not coinciding with our strategy," Gilani said. "Our strategy is to take one area at one time."

ANI