Date:17/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/17/stories/2003081707691200.htm

International

U.S. regrets killing of Pak. soldiers

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Aug. 16. The United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell, telephoned the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to express his "regret" at the killing of two Pakistani soldiers by U.S. troops on the Afghanistan border on August 11.

According to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, Gen. Powell called on Gen. Musharraf late on Friday night to express his regret and to assure Pakistan that the U.S. viewed the country as a key ally in the war on terror.

"Gen. Colin Powell informed the President that an inquiry was being conducted to ascertain all details of the incident. He (Powell) said that the U.S. attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan, its important ally in the global fight against terrorism," a statement by the Ministry said.

The telephonic talk of Gen. Powell, who enjoys a good rapport with Gen. Musharraf, came a day after the Pakistan President conveyed his serious concern over the incident and sought an immediate inquiry into it.There is little doubt that the incident has brought to fore the simmering tensions between Pakistan and the U.S. forces engaged in search and combat operations against the Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives.Suspecting that the fleeing Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives were sneaking into Pakistan and finding shelter in the tribal areas, the U.S. had, a few months ago, demanded the right for `hot pursuit'.