Pakistans Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, reportedly, has suspended the chain of command system in order to enable senior officers on the posts to take appropriate action, if Pakistani forces come under attack. The decision came as a result of the Nato attack on two check posts in Mohmand Agency on November 26, in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were mercilessly killed. Also, the Director General Military Operations, Major General Ishfaq Nadeem, termed it as an unprovoked act of blatant aggression. Therefore, the commanders of the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan need to realise the implications of the new directive issued by the COAS and avoid any misadventure on Pakistani territory that would lead to terrible consequences. Pakistans civilian and military leadership, as well as its people, have lodged strong protests against the incursion, besides rightly boycotting the Bonn Conference, blocking Nato supply routes, demanding the vacation of Shamsi in 15 days, and reviewing Pak-US relations by Parliament. This is only the beginning, since there is no indication so far of any expression of genuine regret for the unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Pakistani check posts. It is indeed unfortunate that the US military officials defended the Nato strike by saying that it was unintentional and took place due to an error of judgment in identifying the exact location of the Pak-Afghan border in the dark. If so, then why is the White House, State Department and Nato high command in Europe, hesitating to offer an apology for the mass killing of our soldiers? Admitting their folly of violating our territorial sovereignty and killing our troops, yet insisting that they shall not offer an apology, is a paradox that can only be explained by 'arrogance of power Needless to say, the Pak-US relationship that has been steadily deteriorating since May 2, 2011, when the American Navy Seals attacked and killed Osama bin Ladin in Abbottabad, have hit the lowest mark after the brutal strike on Salalah check post. Today, the security situation in Pakistan, as well as the South Asian region, has assumed a dangerous dimension, which requires urgent and decisive actions by regional leaders. Nato is trying to expand the use of transit routes through Russia and Central Asian States as an alternative to its main. But Moscow is not willing to oblige either Nato or Washington under the present uncertain circumstances. Interestingly, the international community, even the Islamic countries, has not bothered to either condemn the attack or at least show sympathy towards Pakistani government. Yet, Washington is well advised to stop arm-twisting Pakistan, especially at a time when the US needs its support in the so-called war on terror. Those embarked upon teaching Pakistan a lesson, and cut it down to size, are advised not to forget the defiance by North Korea, Vietnam, Iran, Cuba and Afghanistan on issues of national interest. This shows that it is not easy to shove a State back into the Stone Age, provided it has the will to survive and courage to pay the price for independence. And fortunately, Pakistan is much better placed in human and natural resources than these States. So if anyone thinks otherwise, it will have to face the consequences, like the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. All Pakistan has to do is to keep its horses ready to face any challenge posed to the country and adhere faithfully to the Founder Fathers directive: Faith (in Allah), Unity (among all citizens regardless of religious, ethnic, cultural or tribal prejudice), Discipline (among all ranks and sections of the population to remain strictly within their sphere and show tolerance and passion towards opponents). The writer is President of the Pakistan National Forum. Email: ikramullahkhan1@yahoo.com