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Riaz Denies Clash at Border Between Taliban, Pakistan
Spokesman for the Pakistani Foreign Office (FO) Riaz Mohammed Khan on Saturday denied any clash at border between the Taliban militia and Pakistani troops, which was reported in the press a few days ago.
"We have not heard about any reports of clash on the border," Riaz told a press conference held in the FO, saying all such reports made by the media are rumors.
He said Pakistani security guards exchanged fire with some smugglers who were trying to cross the border, but they should be distinguished from Taliban fighters.
Earlier reports said that Pakistani border troops exchanged fire with about 30 Taliban fighters who tried to flee into Pakistan to escape the U.S. bombing.
To a question relating to the loss of civilians in the US-led air strikes, he said that "we feel sorry and pain over the loss of civilians." He stressed that the campaign should be "clearly targeted," so that the Afghan people do not suffer from the attacks.
To another question on sharing intelligence with the United States, the spokesman said that Pakistan was not a part of an international coalition against terrorism.
"We are not exchanging information with the United States guiding them about any targets. No, the phase of information was relating to whatever we may have known regarding to terrorist activities, and that was over quite some time ago," he added.
On Pakistan's policy on Afghanistan, he said Pakistan's Afghan policy is based on its well-known position of combating terrorism. "Since the principle is quite immutable, there is no reason as why Pakistan should change the broad parameters of its policy," the spokesman added.
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