Seven years on, Pakistan would remain the frontline of anti-terror war but would feel embarrassed as the increasing cross-border raids by the US-led coalition forces on its tribal belt has prompted mounting rage and criticism among the Pakistani people.

Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on Wednesday issued a harsh-wording statement, criticizing the cross-border attacks by the coalition forces from Afghanistan and vowing to defend the country "at all cost".

"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," said Kayani.

He said there is not any agreement or understanding with the coalition forces whereby they are allowed to conduct operations on Pakistani soil.

"The rules of engagement with the coalition forces are well defined and within that, the right to conduct operations against the militants inside own territory is solely the responsibility of the respective armed forces," Kayani said.

Kayani made the statement in response to recent cross-border raids by the coalition forces, which have seen an apparent increase in recent months.

Five missiles hit a compound in northwestern Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal agency on Monday and killed 23 people, including eight children. The attack took place only several days after a reported ground operation by American Special Operations forces against Taliban operating inside Pakistan.

The more cross-border raids implies that the United States is shifting more operation outside Afghanistan because it attributes the rising Taliban insurgency to the support they are receiving from Pakistan's tribal region, analysts said.

Pakistan's tribal region is believed to be a possible haven for al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri. Besides, the US army has also blamed Pakistan's local Taliban for attacks in Afghanistan.

"The United States, however, fails to realize the serious, dire consequences this policy would have on Pakistan and on regional stability, and the serious complications that would arise in the US-Pakistan relations," said Talat Masood, a political and military analyst of Pakistan, in an article published on Daily Times newspaper on Thursday.

Pakistan is now stepping up efforts to fight terrorism, but insists that the foreign forces are not allowed to operate on the Pakistani soil.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who took oath of office as head of state on Tuesday, said the country has a comprehensive plan to fight terrorism.

Zardari, together with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, told a press conference shortly after taking oath that the government had protested to the United States over the cross-border raids.

"I will not only protest but I will ask the world to look upon us. We are the victim of the terrorism," Zardari said.

The Pakistani government is also trying to appease the angry sentiment of the public and dispel the prevailing perception that this is America's war and that Pakistan is being forced to fight under pressure.

"If the United States continues to unilaterally intervene and launch land and air operations inside Pakistan territory, it would be very difficult to make the people own this policy and get their support," Masood said.

"A better alternative for the United States would be to cooperate closely on intelligence and operational matters with Pakistan," Masood said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2008)