Pakistan lashed out at Canada's opposition Liberal Leader Stephane Dion for suggesting that NATO troops should intervene in Pakistan to help curb the flow of terrorists across the border with Afghanistan.
In a statement released by the Pakistan High Commission in Ottawa, the Pakistani government said it was "dismayed" by the opposition leader's comments, adding that Pakistan is fully capable of handling its own security matters, Canadian Television (CTV) reported Friday.
"It shows a lack of understanding of the ground realities. We have, at the highest level, made it clear that Pakistan will not allow any foreign forces to operate within its territory under any circumstances," CTV quoted the statement, released late Thursday, as saying.
Dion and Deputy Leader Michael Ignatieff made a brief visit to Afghanistan last week, meeting with President Hamid Karzai. Upon their return, Dion said NATO will never bring peace to Afghanistan so long as the Taliban can escape across the border into Pakistan.
"If they (Pakistani leaders) are not able to do it on their own, it is something we could consider with NATO, how to help Pakistan help us bring peace to Afghanistan," Dion said Wednesday during a press conference in Quebec City.
"Pakistan is a peace-loving country and has joined the international community in the war against terrorism as an equal partner. The contribution made by Pakistan in this regard has been recognized throughout the world," the Pakistani statement said.
"The price paid by Pakistan being a frontline state cannot be undermined by certain irrational comments," it added.
The Liberals said the opposition leader proposed a diplomatic but not military intervention in the South Asian country.
"Mr Dion obviously did not propose any sort of military intervention. Mr Dion believes that Canada must focus our diplomatic efforts on Pakistan in order to secure the border with Afghanistan," a statement on the Liberal party's website said.
The Liberal Party is Canada's biggest opposition party, holding96 seats in the 308-seat parliament.
Source: Xinhua
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