border raid by Afghanistan-based international troops on a tribal village as “shameful” and unjustified. Pentagon officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, were quoted by news agencies as saying that the raid by special operations forces targeted suspected Al-Qaeda operatives. The idea of American troops entering Pakistan had long been floated by the US, not just in Barack Obama's campaign rhetoric but by the White House, as well. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi decried the raid as unjustified, saying there had not been a “high-value target” in the village attacked, and called on foreign forces to review their rules of engagement. “It is a regrettable, shameful and astonishing incident. We strongly condemn the unprovoked attack by ISAF and coalition forces,” Qureshi said. No doubt, the area in question is restive. But this does not give any excuse to outside force to intervene when Pakistan itself is trying its best to fight militancy there. Pakistani government forces were involved in operations in the same area. US rules of engagement allow American troops to chase militants across the border into Pakistan's tribal region when they are attacked. They may only go about 10 kilometers on the ground under normal circumstances. But as Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said ‘hot pursuit' wasn't an issue. Such unprovoked attacks in which civilians are killed may only make the task of Pakistan government even more difficult as it would face more resistance from the inhabitants of the area. __
