Military

Pakistan army confirms NATO airstrike

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Oct 1, IRNA -- Pakistan army confirmed that two NATO helicopters attacked a Pakistani border post and killed three soldiers.

An army statement said that two NATO helicopters from Afghanistan crossed the border into Pakistan in Upper Kurram Agency and shelled a check post despite warning shots.

“Today at 0525 hours two helicopters from Afghanistan appeared to have crossed the border into Pakistan at Mandata Kandaho, Ali Mangola area of Upper Kurram Agency and engaged through cannon fire on an outpost of Frontier Corps (FC), located 200 meters inside Pakistan (location of post shared with ISAF), manned by six soldiers,” the army said.

A statement said the NATO helicopters engaged through cannon fire on an outpost of Frontier Corps, located 200 meters inside Pakistan. It said the location of post was shared with ISAF.

“Troops of Frontier Corps present at the post retaliated through rifle fire to indicate that the helicopters were crossing into our territory,” a statement from the army’s Inter-Services Public Relations said.

The statement said that instead of heeding to the warning, helicopters went to fire two missiles, destroying the post. Three FC soldiers have been killed and three have been injured.

This is the third incident of its kind during past one week, the statement said.

“In the wake of the last incident on 27 September, contact was made at the highest military level and the incident was regretted by the USA,” it said.