Pakistan 'can't accept a repeat of CIA airstrike'

Pakistan “cannot accept any action” like the US missile attack, apparently aimed at al-Qaida’s number-two, that killed civilians in a border village, the prime minister said today.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz stressed that Pakistan’s relationship with the US remained important and reiterated he was pressing ahead with an official visit to Washington. He is due to leave Pakistan later today.

He made the comments in a joint press conference with former US President George HW Bush, who is currently touring Pakistan as the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for the earthquake relief effort.

“Pakistan has committed to fighting terrorism, but naturally we cannot accept any action within our country which results in what happened over the weekend,” Aziz said.

“The relationship with the US is important. It is growing,” Aziz said.

“But at the same time such actions cannot be condoned.”

Islamic groups in Pakistan have vowed to step up anti-American protests over Friday’s US attack.