ISLAMABAD:The Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, has said that no external force is allowed to conduct operations against the terrorists and extremists inside Pakistan as armed forces of Pakistan are capable to protect the geographical and ideological frontiers of the country.

The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country would be defended at all costs, General Kayani said while addressing the Corps Commanders and Principal Officers of Pakistan Army here on Thursday. The Corps Commanders conference held at General Headquarters of Pakistan Army with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in the chair.

The military hierarchy, a day after their leader, General Kayani, strongly criticised cross-border raids by the US-led coalition forces, sources in the ISPR told Business Recorder.The army chief gathers his Corps Commanders and principle staff officers every month, and September’s two-day meeting in the garrison town of Rawalpindi on Thursday took up the most urgent issue of national importance - the security of our western borders, which was being flouted every now and then by the ISAF forces, the sources further added.

Addressing the participants of the conference, General Kayani said that the rules of engagement with the Coalition Forces were well defined and within that, the right to conduct operations against the militants inside own territory was solely the responsibility of the respective armed forces of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistani armed forces were responsible for taking any action against the miscreants in Pakistani territory, sources quoted General Kayani as saying. The top brass of Pakistan army, in its monthly meeting, discussed the matters related to professional responsibilities, training and requirements of the Pakistan Army.

They also discussed the situation, which emerged after the air and ground assaults of the ISAF forces on Pakistan, killing civilians in large number, including women and children. The conference reviewed the ongoing operation in Swat, Kurram and Bajaur agencies.

The Director General of Military Operations briefed the participants of the conference about the action being taken against miscreants to eliminate their hideouts to bring lasting peace in the region. It may be mentioned here that Chief of Army Staff on Wednesday strongly reacted to the US attack in tribal areas of Pakistan, and said that Pakistan would not allow any external forces to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

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