Pakistanis knows how to defend their country: Ashraf

Islamabad, Aug 22 (IANS) Pakistanis know how defend every inch of their country, said Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf as the nation was battered by a string of terror attacks with the latest assault taking place at a key airforce base.

Rejecting talk of despondency, Ashraf said Tuesday that being a brave and courageous nation, Pakistanis know how to defend every inch of their country and can even sacrifice their lives for this purpose, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

"There is no need of any despondency. No nation is more brave, tolerant, courageous than Pakistanis. Each one from the brave Pakistani nation knows how to defend every inch of their country and sacrifice their lives for this purpose," Ashraf said while addressing a public meeting in his hometown Gujar Khan in Punjab province.

He said: "No power in the world can frighten us, as we are brave people and know how to defend our soil and its integrity. This is also evident from the past."

He referred to the terror attack at the airbase in Kamra and paid tribute to the country's brave soldiers for eliminating the terrorists.

Heavily armed gunmen had stormed the Kamra airbase in Punjab province Thursday. An intense gunfight broke out between the militants and security personnel in Attock, a district that is considered to be one of the areas where Pakistan stores its nuclear arsenal. Nine militants and one soldier were killed.