Rawalpindi, Jan. 3 : Taking strong note of the recent air strikes by US led international forces in Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kayani has asked the forces to cease the missile strikes.

During the Tripartite Commission meeting, consisting of military representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan and international forces in Afghanistan, Kayani demanded that the strikes inside Pakistani territory should be immediately stopped, the Daily Times reported.

Kayani termed the strikes in the tribal areas of the country as `counterproductive in the war against terrorism and extremism'.

He said that many innocent people were being killed in the strikes, giving rise to extremism in the area.

The international forces stationed near the Pakistan-Afghan border recently launched a strike inside Pakistan's territory, which it (international forces) claimed was aimed to root out the Taliban and other militants operating in the area.

In the meeting, Kayani also stressed on the need for increased intelligence sharing among forces operating in the region. (ANI)