Courtesy: "Washington Post", 17 May 2011
Pakistan: NATO helicopters hit border post
By Karin Brulliard
ISLAMABAD — NATO helicopters crossed from Afghanistan into Pakistan and fired on a Pakistani border post early Tuesday, injuring two paramilitary soldiers, according to the Pakistani army.
A security official in North Waziristan said 20 Pakistani paramilitary troops were manning the border post when shelling struck it. He said more troops were being sent to the area to “overcome” the situation.
The Pakistani military said it had “lodged a strong protest” with NATO and demanded a meeting between military officials at the border.
Last September, a U.S. helicopter strike that killed two Pakistani soldiers at a different border checkpoint riled relations between the two allies. After that incident, Pakistan’s army chief ordered the closure of a border crossing point used by NATO supply convoys. The standoff ended after the United States apologized, saying the helicopter pilots believed the Pakistani soldiers were insurgents who were fleeing into Afghanistan.
Special Correspondent Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar contributed to this report.
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Pakistan: NATO helicopters hit border post
By Karin Brulliard
ISLAMABAD — NATO helicopters crossed from Afghanistan into Pakistan and fired on a Pakistani border post early Tuesday, injuring two paramilitary soldiers, according to the Pakistani army.
Soldiers at the post in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan fired on the helicopters, which prompted an exchange of fire, the military said in a statement. North Waziristan, in Pakistan’s tribal belt, is home to several militant organizations that target international forces across the border in Afghanistan. Though Pakistan secretly allows CIA drones to strike the area, it does not permit any form of NATO troop operations on its territory, and a helicopter strike could heighten the fierce tensions between the United States and Pakistan.
Representatives for the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan said they had been notified about the alleged incursion but could not yet confirm it, news services reported. Other Pakistani officials in North Waziristan said they were also investigating. A security official in North Waziristan said 20 Pakistani paramilitary troops were manning the border post when shelling struck it. He said more troops were being sent to the area to “overcome” the situation.
The Pakistani military said it had “lodged a strong protest” with NATO and demanded a meeting between military officials at the border.
Last September, a U.S. helicopter strike that killed two Pakistani soldiers at a different border checkpoint riled relations between the two allies. After that incident, Pakistan’s army chief ordered the closure of a border crossing point used by NATO supply convoys. The standoff ended after the United States apologized, saying the helicopter pilots believed the Pakistani soldiers were insurgents who were fleeing into Afghanistan.
Special Correspondent Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar contributed to this report.
....................
Note: The viewpoint expressed in this article is solely that of the writer / news outlet. "FATA Awareness Initiative" Team may not agree with the opinion presented.
....................
We Hope You find the info useful. Keep visiting this blog and remember to leave your feedback / comments / suggestions / requests / corrections.
With Regards,
"FATA Awareness Initiative" Team.
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