Pakistan reserves the right of retaliation: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that Wednesday's operation was an unprecedented violation of Pakistan’s geographical sovereignty and Pakistan reserves the right of retaliation with full force against any such action."In the past the other side, NATO ISAF, have been engaging the foreign militants present in the area and on this actionable intelligence they engage them through their Predators [drones]," he said. "But never before did a single incursion take place, which has serious consequences." The cross-border operation follows months of increased violence in eastern Afghanistan. U.S. commanders have blamed safe havens in Pakistani tribal areas for giving militants space to re-arm and plan attacks. But Major General Abbas said Wednesday's assault was especially worrying because there were no reports of militants in the area. He said such operations risked alienating local tribes whose support is vital for defeating Taliban militants."We do not want this line which is dividing the militant component and the tribe at large to diminish," he said. "Because if it gets obliterated where the tribe and the militant join each other - and there is an uprising against the local security forces or the forces from outside - this would create one big problem."