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WASHINGTON : US missile strikes are continuing in border regions close to Pakistan, despite the military there saying they will shoot back at foreign forces.
Reports suggest a suspected US missile strike killed at least six people in South Waziristan on Wednesday.
The issue of cross-border attacks on militants using air strikes and ground troops is testing the US-Pakistan alliance.
Recent reports have claimed that the US has been stepping up cross-border attacks on militants operating from bases just inside of Pakistani territory.
Some analysts in Washington said the strategy is counterproductive.
Selig Harrison, Center for International Policy, said: "The US is making a great mistake, because all of these special operations, and the use of air power in particular - with the predator drones that drop destruction onto these border villages leaving civilian casualties - is really driving the Taliban into the arms of Al-Qaeda."
Last week, the New York Times published a report saying President George W Bush has covertly authorised US troop incursions, without permission from Pakistan.
That has prompted Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Kayani to vow to defend Pakistani territory "at all costs".
A Pakistani army spokesman said troops have been told to open fire if the US steps over the line.
The Bush administration has refused to comment directly on the issue of cross-border incursions.
Instead, officials have used carefully-chosen words about the need to address concerns over cross-border militancy.
Sean McCormack, US State Department spokesman, said: "These are issues that Pakistan needs to deal with - this is Pakistani territory - Pakistani sovereign territory.
So they need to address those issues and we are happy to talk about it, we are happy to cooperate to the extent that cooperation is welcome.
"But we do make clear that there is an important security interest, not only for the United States, but for the region and the globe, regarding security in those border areas."
Republican presidential candidate John McCain's foreign policy advisor for the region commented that that US actions are in Pakistan's interests.
Ashley Tellis said: "Whatever the United States does in Pakistan is aimed not simply at protecting its own interests...but fundamentally at advancing Pakistan's own security."
The US Defence Department has long asserted that militants are using the border region as a safe haven from which to carry out strikes on US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.
But critics said entering Pakistani territory is a reckless strategy.
Mr Harrison said: "The danger of US hostages being taken, US personnel being captured, poses all kinds of policy dangers. We would try to get Pakistan to help us get them back. Pakistan apparently is not going to do that..."
America's top military officer Admiral Mike Mullen has been in Pakistan this week - claiming that the US respects Pakistani sovereignty.
But there is still no clarity as to the extent to which the US will continue with its cross-border incursions, and whether Pakistani forces have actually been given the order to fire back if they do so. - CNA/ms
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