London, Sept 4 (ANI): The killing of 20 people in Wana district of Pakistan’s NWFP (North West Frontier Province)
has reportedly evoked a strong reaction from a cross section of leaders
and senior officials. While some described it as an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty, others said it was a gross violation of Pakistan’s territory.

NWFP
Governor Owais Ahmed Ghanisaid called for retaliation from Pakistani
security forces. “This is a direct assault on the sovereignty of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan
expect that the armed forces ... would rise to defend the sovereignty
of the country and give a befitting reply,” the Guardian quoted him as
saying.

The foreign ministry in Islamabad termed the incursion “a gross violation of Pakistan''s territory and a grave provocation” which, it said, had resulted in “immense” loss of civilian life.

“Such
actions are counterproductive and certainly do not help our joint
efforts to fight terrorism. On the contrary, they may fuel the fire of
hatred and violence we are trying to extinguish,” the paper quoted the
foreign ministry as saying in a statement.

A
former senior Pakistani official on the condition of anonymity said:
“This is a very alarming and very dangerous development. We have
absolutely been telling them [the US] not to do this but they ignored us.”

Meanwhile,
justifying the raid, US and NATO commanders said that Taliban and
al-Qaida fighters were using the unruly, semi-autonomous tribal areas
of Pakistan to stage attacks on coalition forces inside Afghanistan and create “safe havens” where they were immune from attack. NATO and civilian casualties in Afghanistan had reached record levels in the past 12 months in the face of a spreading Taliban offensive.

This
was the first time when US and NATO troops carried out on the ground
raid. In the past US forces used only missile-carrying drones to attack
militant targets inside Pakistan.
But, yesterday’s assault, involving up to three helicopters and
infantry commandos, marked the first time the fight has been taken
directly to the enemy on Pakistani soil. (ANI)