Zardari Reversal on US Attacks

In an apparent U-turn, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has indicated that US attacks on Pakistani territory were carried out with Islamabad's consent.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Zardari seemed to acknowledge that his government had known that US forces based in Afghanistan were firing missiles at Pakistan's tribal regions.

"We have an understanding, in the sense that we're going after an enemy together," the paper quoted him as saying.

The remarks are in sharp contrast with Zardari's previous position.

During his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly, Zardari insisted that unilateral US airstrikes and ground assaults inside his country only undermine Pakistan's own efforts to combat the growing tribal insurgency.

"Such actions weaken our position to win the hearts and minds of the people," Zardari said.

In recent months, US forces have conducted several missile strikes and at least one ground attack on targets which the country claims are being used as training centres and hideouts for Taliban militants.

Scores of civilian casualties from the attacks have sparked national outrage with tribal leaders in the provinces bordering Afghanistan denouncing the attacks as acts of terrorism.

It is not clear what prompted Zardari to alter his position, but his remarks could prove unpopular within his government.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani and Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani have both expressed strong opposition to the US attacks and Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has said that the US had not given any prior warnings or consulted Pakistani officials.

The Pakistani military had earlier issued a 'clear order' for troops to open fire on US troops launching cross-border raids.