The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Friday dismissed claims by Pakistan opposition parties that it had acquired land to set up base in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and said its troops' mission in the country was only to provide relief to victims of the October 8 quake.
"NATO has not bought and does not plan to buy land in PoK," NATO disaster relief team Commander Air Commodore Walton said in a statement.
The military alliance has sent 1,000 troops to take part in the relief work in PoK and the North West Frontier Province.
"The mission in Pakistan is for disaster relief only and NATO is not involved in any other issues relating to the Kashmir region," he said.
He said NATO was in Pakistan on its government's invitation to provide aid and support after the October 8 earthquake.
"After the 90-day period, which will end around the last week of January or beginning of February, NATO engineers, medical personnel and helicopters will leave Pakistan," he said.
The clarification followed criticism from Pakistan's opposition parties, specially the Islamist alliance, Muttahida Majlis Amal about the government's decision to invite the NATO forces, alleging that NATO and the US forces had long-term designs.
More from rediff