News

The order will see relations between the United States and Pakistan, a key ally in its war against terrorism, deteriorate further.

Tension between the two allies erupted last week after helicopters ferried US commandos across the border from Afghanistan to conduct a bloody ground assault on Pakistani soil.

It was the first known incursion by American troops into Pakistan since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. US officials claimed the raid accounted for over 20 al-Qaeda fighters. Pakistan insisted 20 civilians, including women and children, were killed.

A Pakistani army spokesman, Maj Gen Athar Abbas said that the military high command has now instructed its field commanders to prevent any similar raids.

He said that if it was clear that troops had crossed the ill-defined border into Pakistani territory, either on the ground or in the air, that troops should "open fire".

"No incursion is to be tolerated," he said.

The US raid stirred residual anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, prompted fears that similar future operations could destabilise the newly elected civilian government and was a source of humiliation for Pakistani armed forces.

America has grown increasingly frustrated with Pakistan's inability or unwillingness to tackle Taliban and terrorist sanctuaries in its lawless, border tribal areas.