Pakistan lodges formal protest over Karzai's threat

Islamabad - Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the Afghan ambassador to register a formal protest against President Hamid Karzai's threat to send troops into Pakistan to hunt down Taliban militants launching cross-border attacks.

Karzai on Sunday said the killing of Afghan and coalition soldiers by infiltrating fighters gave Afghanistan the right to strike Taliban leaders on Pakistani soil in "self defence."

"A strong protest has been lodged with Afghan Ambassador Mohammad Anwar Anwarzai, who was summoned to the foreign office," Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said.

The blunt remarks by the Afghan president had already drawn prompt reaction from Islamabad, which said they "did not show respect for the territorial sovereignty."

Sadiq late Sunday said the Afghan and foreign forces could fight terrorists inside Afghanistan but on our side of the border, only Pakistani troops have "the sole responsibility to take action."

"Pakistan shall defend its territorial sovereignty," he added. (dpa)