Pakistan orders troops to stop US raids

[September 16, 2008]  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistan's army spokesman says its forces have orders to open fire on U.S. troops if they launch another raid across the Afghan border.

Pakistani officials issued sharp protests to Washington after helicopters ferried U.S. commandos into Pakistan's South Waziristan region on Sept. 3 for a highly unusual ground attack into a militant stronghold.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told The Associated Press that, after the raid, the military told its field commanders to prevent any similar raids.

Abbas said that if it was clear that troops had crossed the ill-defined border into Pakistani territory, either on the ground or in the air, that troops should "open fire."

"No incursion is to be tolerated," he said.

[Associated Press]

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