ID :
182765
Tue, 05/17/2011 - 21:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/182765
The shortlink copeid
Pak soldiers injured in exchange with intruding NATO choppers
Islamabad, May 17 (PTI) Two Pakistani soldiers were
injured in an exchange of fire with two NATO helicopters from
Afghanistan that intruded into the volatile North Waziristan
tribal region on Tuesday, an incident that could further
inflame strained ties between Washington and Islamabad.
The NATO helicopters violated Pakistani air space at
the Admi Kot border post in North Waziristan Agency in the
early hours this morning, chief Pakistani military spokesman
Maj Gen Athar Abbas said.
"The troops at the post fired upon the helicopters
and, as a result of exchange of fire, two of our soldiers
received injuries," Abbas said.
The Pakistan Army lodged a "strong protest" over the
incident and demanded a flag meeting, he said.
The incident occurred in Datta Khel region of North
Waziristan, which has witnessed numerous missile strikes by US
drones over the past few years.
The US describes the region as a safe haven for
Taliban and al Qaeda elements who frequently target NATO
forces across the border in Afghanistan.
The injured soldiers were airlifted by a Pakistani
helicopter to Miranshah, the main town in the region.
The International Security Assistance Force in
Afghanistan said it was looking into reports of the air
strike.
The border incursion came at a time when Pakistan-US
ties have been hit hard by the American military raid in the
garrison city of Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden on May
2.
The covert military operation embarrassed and
humiliated the powerful Pakistan Army and intelligence
service.
Islamabad described the raid as a violation of its
sovereignty and reacted angrily to allegations by senior US
officials about the complicity or incompetence of its security
forces in failing to detect bin Laden's presence in Pakistan.
Pakistan retaliated against an incursion by NATO
helicopters in September last year, which killed two Pakistani
soldiers, by shutting down the main supply route for NATO
forces in Afghanistan.
The route was reopened after the US tendered an
official apology for the incursion.
injured in an exchange of fire with two NATO helicopters from
Afghanistan that intruded into the volatile North Waziristan
tribal region on Tuesday, an incident that could further
inflame strained ties between Washington and Islamabad.
The NATO helicopters violated Pakistani air space at
the Admi Kot border post in North Waziristan Agency in the
early hours this morning, chief Pakistani military spokesman
Maj Gen Athar Abbas said.
"The troops at the post fired upon the helicopters
and, as a result of exchange of fire, two of our soldiers
received injuries," Abbas said.
The Pakistan Army lodged a "strong protest" over the
incident and demanded a flag meeting, he said.
The incident occurred in Datta Khel region of North
Waziristan, which has witnessed numerous missile strikes by US
drones over the past few years.
The US describes the region as a safe haven for
Taliban and al Qaeda elements who frequently target NATO
forces across the border in Afghanistan.
The injured soldiers were airlifted by a Pakistani
helicopter to Miranshah, the main town in the region.
The International Security Assistance Force in
Afghanistan said it was looking into reports of the air
strike.
The border incursion came at a time when Pakistan-US
ties have been hit hard by the American military raid in the
garrison city of Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden on May
2.
The covert military operation embarrassed and
humiliated the powerful Pakistan Army and intelligence
service.
Islamabad described the raid as a violation of its
sovereignty and reacted angrily to allegations by senior US
officials about the complicity or incompetence of its security
forces in failing to detect bin Laden's presence in Pakistan.
Pakistan retaliated against an incursion by NATO
helicopters in September last year, which killed two Pakistani
soldiers, by shutting down the main supply route for NATO
forces in Afghanistan.
The route was reopened after the US tendered an
official apology for the incursion.
