Pak trying to avert direct US strike in its tribal areas: Kasuri

In a bid to avoid direct strikes by the US in its tribal areas, Pakistan has informed the western countries that it is trying to control cross-border movement of militants.

Lahore, July 22 : In a bid to avoid direct strikes by the US in its tribal areas, Pakistan has informed the western countries that it is trying to control cross-border movement of militants.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told reporters that the West was alleging that militants were crossing into Afghanistan from the tribal areas, and added that he had informed them that Pakistan was trying to stop such activities.

Commenting on the possibility of direct US attacks, he said the army wanted to avoid the killings, and it was because of its careful planning that the casualty ratio between the two sides was much less than the one being witnessed in Iraq.

Although extremists had unilaterally withdrawn from the agreement, the NWFP Governor was still doing his best to deal with the situation in a peaceful manner, the Dawn quoted Kasuri, as saying.

He claimed the army had been sent to the tribal areas in an attempt to save the accord and avoid 'collateral damage'.

Kasuri said the government wanted to deal with the situation through political means, including adherence to the peace accord.

ANI