Pakistan draws UNSC's attention to NATO raid

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has brought to the attention of the UN Security Council the statement, issued by the Defence Committee of the Cabinet in response to November 26 deadly NATO strike on Mohmand checkposts at Pakistan's border, that condemned the raid.

The DCC statement has been circulated to members of the Security Council by its president and is being issued as official document of the 15-member Council.

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon, who had arrived in New York on Sunday night after having consultations with the government, addressed a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

He apprised the Secretary General of the situation, saying that in the early hours of Saturday, the NATO/ISAF aircraft attack on Pakistan's border posts resulted in the martyrdom of 24 officers and soldiers of Pakistan Army and injured another 13 personnel.

The DCC, in its emergency meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on the evening of Saturday, had condemned the attack in strongest terms and declared it as unacceptable. It reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani people and Armed Forces to safeguard the country's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity at all costs.

In accordance with the resolution of the Joint Session of the Parliament of May 14, 2011, the DCC announced the closure with immediate effect of the NATO/ISAF logistics supply lines and decided to ask the United States to vacate the Shamsi Airbase within 15 days.

The DCC statement had also said that the Government will revisit and undertake a complete review of all programmes, activities and cooperative arrangements with US/NATO/ISAF, including diplomatic, political, military and intelligence. (APP)