Islamabad, Sept 17: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the public relations wing of the Pakistan army, has said that giving orders to its troops to hit back at US drones was not a recent change in its policy of defending its territory against foreign incursions.

ISPR chief Maj Gen Athar Abbas said that to defend the country and its people against any foreign aggression was the “stated policy” of the Pakistan Army.

“There has been no recent change in the army’s policy after cross-border incursions by US-led forces. We reserve the right to defend our people in case of any offensive or cross-border incursion and we reserve the right to respond,” the Daily Times quoted Abbas as saying.

Peshawar, Sept 17 : Even as top American military man Michael Mullen is making a hurriedly planned visit to Islamabad to resolve the crisis over US’ unilateral strikes on Pakistan’s tribal areas, US drones were seen today hovering over the tribal region.

But, they left as soon as tribal people shot fired at them, reported The News.

According to tribal sources, US spy planes were seen patrolling over Mcckain, Ladha and other border areas along Pak-Afghan border. The angry tribals opened fire at the drones after which they flew back.

US drones were also seen flying over skies of Kurram Agency, added the paper.

Lahore, Sept 17: The PPP-led alliance government in Pakistan had turned out to be a divine punishment for masses, as the slogan chanters of “Roti, Kapra Aur Makan” have done nothing except bringing poverty and hunger to the nation, said an Islamic party leader in the country.

Jamaat-e-Islami deputy secretary-general Maqsood Ahmad said that the prices of petrol, diesel and gas in Pakistan had gone up despite the fact that the oil prices had dipped over 30 per cent in the international market in recent weeks.

Islamabad, Sept 17 : Alleging that India had slowed down the water flow of the Chenab river, thereby violating the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan is learnt to have decided to move the World Bank in a last ditch effort for arbitration asking for huge agricultural loses.

Sources in the Pakistani Ministry for Water Resources said that India reduced water flow in the Chenab River thereby hitting hard the kharif crop in Pakistan, and rendering huge financial losses to Pakistani farmers.

London, Sept 17 : Newly-elected Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly sought UK’s help in resolving the simmering row with Washington over US’ unilateral strikes on its (Pakistan’s) tribal areas.

He said Britain had a better understanding than any other country, and hoped that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown would use his influence on others (read the US).

“Britain has always had a better understanding of the Subcontinent than any other country so if [the UK] will take our point of view and put it across to the world I think it will be better,” the Daily Times quoted Zardari as saying.

Islamabad, Sept 17: America’s top military official Adm. Mike Mullen made a hurriedly arranged visit to Pakistan last evening for holding talks about a recent incursion by American commandos based in neighboring Afghanistan.

The visit assumes significance in the wake of strong reactions emanating from Islamabad against the US’ raids on its territory, and especially after the Pakistan Army ordered its troops to hit back at US’ troops in case of future raids.