Pakistan Army threatens to reconsider US ties

The political implications of the death of Osama bin Laden seem to be felt in Pakistan where he was killed by US commandos. Apart from sporadic demonstrations against the al-Qaeda leader’s killing, bin Laden’s death has a far-reaching impact on US-Pakistan relations and seemed to shift the dynamics of the long-drawn war on terrorism in general and the US Army’s military campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The immediate reaction to the US raid on a safe house in Abbottabad in Pakistan came from top brass of the highly influential Pakistan Army.

The warning against future raids come as US politicians question Pakistan aid following bin Laden’s killing in Abbottabad.

The relationship between Pakistan and the US is under intense scrutiny, with the Pakistani army saying that it will review co-operation with the US if there is another violation of its sovereignty.

The warning follows the special operation by US commandos inside Pakistani territory that led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda.

The Pakistan Army threatened on Thursday to reconsider its anti-terrorism co-operation with the US if the Americans carried out another unilateral attack like the killing of bin Laden.

Although both the US and Pakistani governments have also attempted to highlight co-operation between the two, comments from senior officials suggest the opposite.

Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani foreign secretary, Salman Bashir, warned that regional neighbours should not think they can follow America’s lead.

He cautioned the US and other countries on Thursday against future raids in the country on suspected fighters, saying that such actions would have “disastrous consequences”. “We feel that sort of misadventure or miscalculation would result in a terrible catastrophe,” he said.