NATO should thoroughly investigate the killings of 24 Pakistani soldiers

I,m very concerned with the unintended killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers last Saturday by NATO helicopters and fighter jets, when they fired on two army checkpoints in the country’s northwest.  NATO should thoroughly investigate this incident and avoid the future tragedies similar to this. As a politician in Azerbaijan and as a friend of Pakistan I’m very disturbed with the fact. Pakistan is a brotherly country to Azerbaijan and all those killed are our brothers.

My most sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of suffered families. I put myself into the families of the killed soldiers and it was such a heartbreaking feeling.

I’m glad that Nato has apologized, calling it a “tragic unintended incident”. It is good that Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen had written to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to “make it clear that the deaths of Pakistani personnel are as unacceptable and deplorable as the deaths of Afghan and international personnel”.

I wish prosperity, peace and healthy life to all our Pakistani brothers and sisters.

Razi Nurullayev
Deputy-chairman on foreign affairs of Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan
Chairman of Board, “REGION” International Analytical Center (RIAC)