A large area of discussion in the Republican debate last night centered around Pakistani president Musharraf’s unwillingness to hunt al Qaeda with his forces despite hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to the country. Also up for discussion was the leaders unwillingness to allow the United States itself to go in and fight terrorists along its border with Afghanistan. Many of the candidates spoke of the need for Musharraf to either get tuff and use the aid to accomplish the task or face pressure from their potential administration to let America in.

Today Musharraf warned the United States that it would be regarded as “invaders” if any attempt was made to cross the border into Pakistan to hunt al Qaeda. From the Associated Press report:

The New York Times newspaper reported last week Washington is considering expanding the authority of the Central Intelligence Agency and the military to pursue aggressive covert operations within the tribal regions.

Mr. Musharraf told the Straits Times that U.S. troops would “certainly” be considered invaders if they set foot in the tribal regions.

“If they come without our permission, that’s against the sovereignty of Pakistan. I challenge anybody coming into our mountains,” he said in the interview in the garrison city Rawalpindi.

“They would regret that day.”