The US will invade Pakistan to deal with instability and Australia must send troops there, too, says independent MP Bob Katter.

Mr Katter told parliament yesterday the situation in Pakistan was increasing the likelihood of a US invasion, which Australia should support.

Speaking during the debate on Afghanistan, Mr Katter, who was once the proud owner of an AK-47 assault rifle, said the security situation in Pakistan was “highly volatile”.

With the government of Pakistan under increasing threat from armed fundamentalist rebels, a US military invasion was inevitable, Mr Katter said.

“Having said all those things, there has never been any doubt in my mind that if the Americans go in and they request us to go in, we absolutely must go in.

“This is not a happy event for Australia.

“Are we to tag along as the tail on the donkey? Yes, that is absolutely correct.”
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Yesterday, Defence confirmed that four soldiers had been wounded last week during a firefight with the Taliban in Sha Wali Kot, in southern Afghanistan. Two soldiers would be evacuated home, one of whom had a serious wound, a Defence spokesman said.

It brings to 156 the total number of Australian soldiers wounded in action in Afghanistan since 2001.

A total of 21 Diggers have been killed over the same period, 10 this year alone.