Salala raid: 'Pakistan to continue pressing US for formal apology'

Rehman says efforts being made in talks with the US to get the best outcome in terms of Pakistan’s national...

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Sherry Rehman has said that Pakistan will continue to press the United States (US) for a formal apology on the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers during an air raid last year on border posts located in Mohmand Agency.

Nato had earlier extended an invitation to Pakistan for a key summit on Afghanistan in Chicago hours before the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) had given a go-ahead to lift the six-month old blockade on Nato supplies passing through the country. The supplies had been suspended in November last year in reprisal to the check post attack.

In message on Twitter, Rehman said:

Pk to attend Nato summit; discussions begin on supply routes; we continue to press for Salala apology and work for best national outcomes.

Acting Assistant Defence Secretary George Little had earlier said that the US was still noncommittal to a Pakistani demand for a formal apology.

Little had been asked if the US would offer a formal apology at a Pentagon news briefing. He had also expressed deep regret and had offered condolences over the killings.

The invitation for the Chicago summit had been extended by General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to President Asif Zardari on Tuesday. Last week, the Nato chief had tacitly linked Pakistan’s participation in the summit with the resumption of supply lines.

However, the presidential spokesperson had insisted that the invitation was unconditional and not linked to the opening of Nato supply routes or to any other issue.