Pakistan criticise Obama for 'irresponsible' comments

Pakistan criticised US presidential candidate Barack Obama today for saying that, if elected, he might order unilateral military strikes against terrorists hiding in the Islamic country.

Top Pakistan officials said Obama’s comment was irresponsible and likely made for political gain in the race for the Democratic nomination.

“It’s a very irresponsible statement, that’s all I can say,” said Pakistan’s foreign minister Khusheed Kasuri.

“As the election campaign in America is heating up we would not like American candidates to fight their elections and contest elections at our expense.”

Obama said in a speech on Wednesday that as president he would order military action against terrorists in Pakistan’s tribal region bordering Afghanistan if intelligence warranted it. The comment provoked anger in Pakistan, a key ally of the United States in its war on terror.

Many analysts believe that top Taliban and al Qaida leaders, including Osama bin Laden, are hiding in the region after escaping the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has come under growing pressure from Washington to do more to tackle the alleged al Qaida havens in Pakistan. The Bush administration has not ruled out military strikes, but still stresses the importance of co-operating with Pakistan.

“There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again,” Obama said. “If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf will not act, we will.”

Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim said no foreign forces would be allowed to enter Pakistan, and called Obama irresponsible.

“I think those who make such statements are not aware of our contribution” in the fight on terrorism, he said.

Pakistan used to be a main backer of the Taliban, but it threw its support behind Washington following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Since then, Pakistan has deployed about 90,000 troops in its tribal regions, mostly in lawless North and South Waziristan, and has lost hundreds of troops in fighting with militants there.

But a controversial strategy to make peace with militants and use tribesmen to police Waziristan has fuelled US fears that al Qaida has been given space to regroup.