Pakistan has called White House comments that US forces could unilaterally strike militant targets inside the country 'irresponsible'. The White House a day earlier refused to rule out striking at suspected terrorist targets inside Pakistan near the Afghan border and would not say whether US forces would first seek permission from Islamabad.
US President George W. Bush's spokesman, Tony Snow, when asked by reporters Thursday whether US forces could strike militants inside Pakistan, said: "We never rule out any options, including striking actionable targets."
Asked whether Bush would first seek authorization from Musharraf, Snow told reporters: "Those are matters that are best not discussed publicly."
"Such comments and calls are irresponsible and dangerous," a Pakistan foreign ministry statement said.
"First and foremost Pakistan is combating extremism and terrorism in its own national interest. Secondly, Pakistan and the United States are partners in the international campaign against terrorism."
Pakistan has stressed that its military action had yielded "concrete results in terms of the disruption of al-Qaeda and the capture of its key leaders."
The Islamabad statement stressed that "we have repeatedly made our position clear that whatever counterterrorism action is to be taken inside Pakistan, it will be taken by our own security forces."