Gilani backs Kayani’s salvo against U.S. operations

Bush nod to strikes in Pakistan without Islamabad’s permission upsets Army
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday hastened to assure that Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had not opened a front against the government with his strongly-worded statement asking foreign troops to keep off amid reports of a secret understanding between the government and the Bush administration for U.S. troops to carry out attacks on Pakistani territory.
The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Mr. Gilani saying the Army chief’s statement “was reflective of government policy”. He told journalists that the government had “the same views” as General Kayani on defending the sovereignty.
Pakistan’s corps commanders also met on Thursday in Rawalpindi in a show of solidarity with their chief after his unprecedented outburst, which was aimed at the U.S. but also appeared intended as a message to the new government not to get too close to the U.S.