Martyred troops buried in Pakistan amid fury over NATO strike

Families of 28 martyred troops buried their loved ones amid anger and angst against North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United States. These troops were killed on Saturday morning in an attack by the NATO gunship helicopters. Around 40 troops including officers were stationed on a check post in Mohmand Agency when they came under a sudden attack what the Pakistani officials termed an "unprovoked attack."

Emotional scenes were witnessed during the burial of Havaldar Mumtaz in Bhagwal, a village in district Chakwal. He left his wife and two children to mourn his death. Around 1,500 people attended his funeral prayer and congratulated his family members for having a martyred to pride. Other martyred were also buried with full honor in their ancestor villages. People were equally jubilant for having a martyr among them and furious over the brazen attack by NATO forces.

Different religious parties of the country also held protest demonstrations against the United States and NATO. They demanded Pakistani government to cease all types of relations with the US because it stabbed Pakistan in the back. Pakistan is an important ally to the US-led coalition forces in war on terror and around 40,000 people of Pakistan, including security personnel, have sacrificed their lives.

Hundreds of people participated in the rally of Jamat-e-Islami - a major religious party of Pakistan - and chanted vociferous slogans against the US and NATO. "Down with America" and "Jihad is the only answer to America," the protesters yelled during the protest rally.

Earlier in the day, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu telephoned his Pakistani counterpart, Hina Rabbani Khar, to express solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan over the NATO attack. Turkey is a member of NATO and the Turkish minister assured his Pakistani counterpart to press the organization for an impartial and speedy inquiry into the matter. Pakistan is enraged over the unprovoked attack and has decided to cease all kinds of relationships with the US and NATO forthwith.

Khar also telephoned her American counterpart, Hillary Clinton, and informed her about the decisions that were taken Saturday night in the Defence Committee of Cabinet (DCC) - the highest forum of Pakistan to discuss defense matters and making policies. Soon after the attack, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called an emergency meeting of the DCC to discuss the incident. It was decided to completely stop the logistic supply of NATO in Afghanistan and get Shamsi Airbase vacated from the US within 15 days.

Public sentiments against America have reached a new height in the country after the attack and people are demanding the government to pull out from the so-called alliance on war on terror.

NATO and US officials have contacted top Pakistani officials and are trying to normalize the relations. They have apologized over the attack and promised an impartial inquiry into it to ascertain facts.

The next couple of days are important.