Pakistan 'fires on Nato aircraft'

25/09/2008| IslamWeb

Nato forces in eastern Afghanistan say their helicopters have been fired upon by a Pakistani military checkpoint.

 

The Western alliance said its aircraft had not crossed into Pakistani airspace when they came under fire over Khost province, news agency AP reports.

 

The incident comes amid growing tension over a number of recent incidents at the Pakistan-Afghan border.

 

Earlier this week, Pakistani troops fired warning shots at US helicopters near the border, local officials said.

 

And on Wednesday, a drone believed to be operated by the CIA crashed inside Pakistan.

 

In a statement on the latest incident, Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said there had been no damage or casualties.

 

Routine operations

 

"Isaf helicopters received small-arms fire from a Pakistan military checkpoint along the border near Tanai district, Khost, September 25 while conducting routine operations in Afghanistan," it said in a statement.

 

"At no time did Isaf helicopters cross into Pakistani airspace," it added.

 

Isaf said it was working with the Pakistani military to resolve the incident.

 

 

 

Local tribesmen in the area told the BBC that two helicopters were trying to cross into Pakistani territory near Ghulam Khan, in North Waziristan, when Pakistani troops at posts near the border fired at them.

 

Major Murad Khan, of the Pakistani military, told the BBC that they were still checking the incident.

 

Correspondents say there is growing anger in Pakistan at US forces in Afghanistan allegedly violating Pakistani sovereignty.

 

Ground assault

 

There has been tension between the two countries since 3 September when the US conducted its first ground assault in Pakistani territory on what it said was a militant target in South Waziristan.

 

Pakistan reacted angrily to the action, saying 20 innocent villagers had been killed by US troops.

 

Local officials have said that on two occasions since then Pakistani troops or tribesmen have opened fire to stop US forces crossing the border. The claims have not been officially confirmed.

 

The US and Nato have called on Pakistan to do more to curb militants operating in the border area.

 

The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan says that the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is very unclear.

 

There is an imaginary border called the Durand line which each side marks differently.

 

Our correspondent says that, in reality, the border is marked by a 3-4km (1-2 miles) stretch of no man's land.

 

Pakistan says this is its territory and Afghanistan makes similar claims.

 

PHOTO CAPTION

 

Pakistani soldier in Bajur

 

BBC