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Attacks difficult to explain, says Zardari : No US assurance to halt missile strikes

* Petraeus meets Gen Kayani and Gen Majid
* Pakistan seeks help for Bajaur displaced
* US team informed about security needs

ISLAMABAD: United States Central Command chief General David Petraeus did not guarantee an end to US drone attacks in Pakistani in a meeting with Pakistan’s top leaders on Monday.

Pakistan’s most high profile protest yet came as Gen Petraeus met with top civil and military leaders in his first visit here since he took over his new position last week, amid claims that it could signal a shift in strategy in Afghanistan.

“Pakistani leaders told General Petraeus it is not possible to ask our people to support the war on terror when our sovereignty is violated every day,” sources familiar with the interaction told Daily Times. US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher accompanied Petraeus.

According to an official statement, Zardari warned the US general the missile strikes were ‘counterproductive’ and “difficult to explain by a democratically-elected government”. “It is creating a credibility gap,” he said.

“The president said that US leadership has affirmed respect for Pakistan’s territorial integrity,” the statement said.

Boucher and Petraeus also met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani and National Security Adviser Mehmood Ali and senior US and Pakistani officials were also present.

An Inter-Services Public Relations statement said Petraeus separately met with Gen Kayani and Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Tariq Majid.

Gen Majid told the US delegation the two countries needed a “consensus strategy to deal with violent extremism” that “keeps in view the local perspective”, the statement said.

Earlier, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar and Petraeus “stressed the need for enhanced co-operation to eliminate the scourge of terrorism”.

Bajaur displaced: Sources said Mukhtar also sought international help for the people displaced because of the military operation in Bajaur Agency.

Security needs: The American delegation was also briefed on Pakistan’s security needs to enhance its operational capability to fight terrorism.

Gen Patraeus said that they would consider the requests. sajjad malik/agencies

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