Pakistan accuses US of terror raids

An unprecedented order by US President George W Bush for US special forces to carry out counter-terrorist incursions within Pakistan’s territory has sparked fears that the conflict in Afghanistan is spreading to Pakistan.

In response to Bush’s carte blanche order, US Navy Seals commandos and American attack helicopters launched a cross-border raid into Pakistan last week. The US claimed they killed about two dozen insurgents while Pakistani officials condemned the raid as illegal and said most of the dead were civilians.

Tensions between the two allies ran high on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America, with Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Kayani criticising the US military for making unilateral cross-border raids.

He said that there was “no agreement or understanding with the coalition forces whereby they are allowed to conduct operations on our side of the border”. Pakistan would defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity “at all costs”, he said.