Corps Commanders resolve to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty

RAWALPINDI(Pakistan) The 138th Corps Commanders’ Conference was held here on Thursday and discussed the incident of killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and reiterated the resolve to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to fight the menace of terrorism, with the support and help of the people of Pakistan.The Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani while presiding over the meeting held at General Headquarters “ made it very clear that any similar action, violating the sovereignty of Pakistan, will warrant a review on the level of military/intelligence cooperation with the United States,” a press release issued by ISPR said. One point agenda was the Abbottabad incident in which Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces. The Forum discussed the incident and its implications and on military to military relations with the United States.

While admitting own shortcomings in developing intelligence on the presence of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan, it was highlighted that the achievements of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), against Al Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates in Pakistan, have no parallel.

The Forum was informed that around 100 top level Al Qaeda leaders/operators were killed/arrested by ISI, with or without support of CIA.

However, in the case of Osama Bin Laden, while the CIA developed intelligence based on initial information provided by ISI, it did not share further development of intelligence on the case with ISI, contrary to the existing practice between the two services. Nonetheless, an investigation has been ordered into the circumstances that led to this situation.

The Corps Commanders were informed about the decision to reduce the strength of US military personnel in Pakistan to the minimum essential.

As regards the possibility of similar hostile action against our strategic assets, the Forum reaffirmed that, unlike an undefended civilian compound, our strategic assets are well protected and an elaborate defensive mechanism is in place.

The Forum, taking serious note of the assertions made by Indian military leadership about conducting similar operations, made it very clear that any misadventure of this kind will be responded to very strongly.There should be no doubt about it.