WORLD> Asia-Pacific
No foreign action allowed in Pakistan: PM
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-13 22:01

ISLAMABAD  -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Sunday played down rumors about US military action in the country's tribal regions and said that Islamabad would not allow any country to interfere in its internal affairs.

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US media have reported that the US is planning action against the al-Qaida and Taliban in the Pakistani tribal areas.

Saturday's unannounced visit to Pakistan by US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Mike Mullen has raised more questions about the possibility of the action.

"Pakistan is a sovereign country and we will not allow anyone to carry out operations in our territory," Gilani told reporters. "We should act as a responsible citizen and should not provide opportunity to any one. What the world would say if terrorist acts regularly take place in our country?"

"Why are you thinking about any foreign act? We are a sovereign country and will not allow any other nation to interfere in our internal matters," he said.

Gilani condemned the killing of 17 paramilitary troops in the country's restive northwest by the local Taliban Saturday.

The slain soldiers from the "Frontier Corps" were part of a convoy which came under attack on the outskirts of Hangu in North West Frontier Province.

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