We, the Global Anti-Imperialism Grassroots Islamic Organization, condemn in the highest terms the cross border raids carried out by the US military resulting in the deaths of dozens of Pakistani civilians in the past few weeks. Our sympathies are with the grieving families of these innocent people and for the people of the Pakistan border regions who live in constant fear of attack. We support with utmost conviction the response by the Pakistani military to reassert its sovereignty over its own territory and to secure the lives of its people.
Throughout the past few weeks, the US military, in flagrant disregard for international law, has carried out operations in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region without consulting the governments involved. The result has been an increased rate of civilian deaths of innocent Afghanis and Pakistanis, mostly women and children in this region. One such event occurred in Afghanistan on the 22nd day of August 2008 in which a US airplane bombed the village of Azizabad killing 90 civilians, including 60 children [backed by Afghani government investigation and a preliminary UN report sources]. Another such event occurred on the 10th day of June 2008 in which American air planes bombed a position on Pakistani territory killing 11 Pakistani soldiers belonging to the Frontier Crops division of the Pakistani army.
For the Pakistani civilians and soldiers living in this area, it has become increasingly dangerous as American cross border raids and bombings have been resulting in significant deaths for civilians across the border. There are yet no formal statistics as to the number of victims of this aggression towards an allied nation, however we are sure the Pakistani government will release the details in due time. In addition to these attacks, American media organs and government officials have become increasingly hostile to Pakistani government and are now attempting to build a case for intervention into Pakistan, if not thorough invasion of the country. For a country which has risked much danger for being an ally of the United States in times of adversity such as the cold war and in the current war, this rhetoric seems as a proverbial "stab in the back."
In light of these and other occurrences, the Pakistani military has issued strong condemnations and has insisted that Pakistan will defend its territory from the invasion by any foreign power. Pakistani army chief General Ashfaq Kayani gave the following statement speaking of the cross border raids and murders of innocent Pakistanis: "The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country will be defended at all cost and no external force is allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan." In addition to this statement, following an attempted excursion via American helicopters into Pakistani territory on the 15th of September 2008 Pakistani soldiers opened fire to drive away American troops form landing on Pakistani territory. The Pakistani military is exerting its influence and power of its own territory which has been subject to violent and unwarranted attacked from foreign troops. The people of Pakistan have shown their support for the Pakistani military in this endeavor.
We, the GAIGIO, praise the great patience and resistance of the Pakistani people against the foreign aggression in their homeland. All people who stand for truth, justice, and international law should condemn these civilian murders by another nation. It is the duty of the United States to punish those soldiers and leaders involved in these unwarranted attacks against a faithful allied nation and to apologize to both the Pakistani government and its people for these crimes. Unless these points are met, a sovereign nation like Pakistan should not stay a part of a military coalition in which does not care for the lives of its allied soldiers or innocent civilians. We repeat our appreciation of the actions of our Pakistani brethren, in the military and in the populace, for standing up for their sovereignty. We also pray for an end to their suffering.
In conclusion, We stress that the life and property of a Pakistani should be respected, with dignity and honor, as any other human being.
-issued by the Global Anti-Imperialism Grassroots Islamic Organization [9/17/06]