Pakistani parliament condemns U.S.-led attack

updated 11:38 a.m. ET Sept. 4, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Parliament condemned an American-led attack in Pakistani territory on Thursday after the government summoned the U.S. ambassador to protest the unusually bold raid in a troubled border region.

The same area was hit by a deadly missile strike Thursday, and a man who lives nearby said he later saw Taliban militants surround the site.

The criticism grew two days before Asif Ali Zardari is expected to be chosen as president in a vote by legislators. A spokesman said Zardari condemned Wednesday's pre-dawn assault in the South Waziristan tribal region. It killed at least 15 people, officials say, and was the first known foreign ground assault in Pakistan against a Taliban haven.

But Zardari also said Pakistan stands with the U.S. against international terrorism.

Pro-U.S. policy
Zardari, widower of former premier Benazir Bhutto, is expected to pursue a pro-U.S. policy similar to that of former President Pervez Musharraf and continue to go after Islamic militants accused of crossing into Afghanistan to attack the U.S.-led international security force there.

An American official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of cross-border operations, confirmed to The Associated Press that U.S. troops conducted the raid about a mile from the Afghan border.

It was unclear whether any extremist leader was killed or captured. Pakistan's border region is considered a likely hiding place for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri.

Two Pakistani intelligence officials said a missile strike was suspected in a blast Thursday that killed four people in North Waziristan. Azeemullah Wazir, who lives in the area, said the explosion destroyed a house known to host foreigners. He said he heard three blasts and later saw Taliban militants surround the site.

The U.S. has been suspected in previous missile strikes in Pakistani territory.

Elsewhere in the volatile northwest, a firefight and airstrikes killed 37 Islamic militants Wednesday, officials said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned Wednesday's attack, saying "no important terrorist or high-value target" was killed but that innocent citizens, including women and children were "targeted."

The ministry's spokesman said officials had no indication that U.S. forces had captured anyone.

Death toll disputed
Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, citing witness and intelligence reports, said troops flew in on at least one big CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter, blasted their way into several houses and gunned down men they found there.

Army and intelligence officials as well as residents said 15 people died, while the provincial governor said 20 civilians, including women and children, were killed.

Pakistan's Senate and National Assembly passed resolutions Thursday condemning the attack.

In the past, similar protests over suspected U.S. missile attacks in Pakistani territory have led to little tangible effect on America's relationship with Pakistan, which has received billions of dollars from Washington for its aid in the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

Still, the operation in South Waziristan's Angoor Ada area threatened to complicate an already difficult relationship.

U.S. commanders have been pushing Pakistan to root out militants. American officials say destroying militant sanctuaries in Pakistani tribal regions is key to defeating Taliban-led militants in Afghanistan, whose insurgency has strengthened every year since 2001, when the fundamentalist militia was ousted for harboring bin Laden.

Suspected U.S. missile strikes killed at least two al-Qaida commanders this year in northwest Pakistan, angering many among the region's fiercely independent tribes.

MORE FROM SOUTH & CENTRAL ASIA

South & Central Asia Section Front

Sex clause cut from Afghan marriage law 2 million Pakistanis to return home soon Blasts kill 25 Afghans, 2 NATO troops Karzai pardons five heroin traffickers Newsweek: The problem with Pakistan drone attacks South & Central Asia Section Front   Add South & Central Asia headlines to your news reader: