Respond with full force to future NATO attack: Kayani

Such an action would require no clearance at any level and the army would provide resources as required on ground,he was quoted as saying. Following Saturdays airstrike on two military border posts in Mohmand Agency that killed 24 soldiers,Pakistan closed all NATO supply routes and asked the US to vacate Shamsi airbase,reportedly used by CIA-operated drones.

Pakistan also decided to boycott the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan to protest the attack. The sources said Kayani had described the NATO attack as a blatant act of aggression that was unacceptable. The army chief said he had issued directions that any act of aggression would be responded to with full force,regardless of the cost and consequences.

While lauding the response of his troops to the NATO airstrike,Kayani said the action could have been more effective if the Pakistan Air Force had joined in. However,it was no fault of the PAF that it could not participate in the action and a timely decision could not be taken due to the breakdown of communications and a lack of clarity,Kayani was quoted as saying by the sources.