Pakistan Strongly Protests over NATO Attack

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Pakistan has registered a strong protest over the NATO airstrikes in its territory that led to killing of at least 24 security officials in Mohmand tribal region near Afghan border. It has also ordered a review of all co-operation with the United States and NATO.A committee chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also decided to cut supply lines to NATO in Afghanistan. Gilani called the attack a "grave infringement of Pakistan's sovereignty".A meeting of the cabinet's defence committee, convened by Gilani, decided the government would "revisit and undertake a complete review of all programmes, activities and co-operative arrangements with US/NATO/ISAF, including diplomatic, political, military and intelligence".It "decided to close with immediate effect NATO/ISAF logistics supply lines", according to a statement issued by Gilani's office. The committee also said the United States would be asked to vacate, within 15 days, the Shamsi air base, which the US has used to launch drones.Pakistan's government also summoned the US ambassador. Sources said that Pakistan’s deputy ambassador in Washington handed over a protest letter to the US State Departments authorities shortly after the attack took place, waking them up from a deep sleep, and urging them to convey Pakistan’s protest immediately to the US government. A NATO spokesman admitted it was "highly likely" that NATO aircraft were behind the strike at the Afghan border.The US has stressed the importance of its relationship and said it fully backed NATO's plan to investigate. The night-time attack took place at the Salala checkpoint, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the Afghan border, at around 02:00 on Saturday morning local time (21:00 GMT Friday).The Pakistani army said helicopters and fighter aircraft hit two border posts, killing 24 people and leaving 13 injured. Local officials said the two posts were about 300m apart on a mountain top. Pakistani officials said there had been no militant activity in the area, and most of the Pakistani soldiers were asleep. They also said NATO had the grid references of the posts and therefore should not have fired./129