US denies NATO helicopters violate Pakistan's airspace
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Nov 4, IRNA -- U.S. embassy said Wednesday that no NATO helicopters have violated Pakistan’s airspace.
Local media reported that NATO helicopters on Tuesday violated Pakistan airspace in the tribal region.
The Nation daily reported that the helicopters on Tuesday entered up to 600 metres inside Pakistan’s Kurram agency and hovered in the airspace for 20 minutes.
Nato helicopters had earlier twice violated airspace in the same area last month, including one violation which led to the killing of three Pakistani security personnel.
Pakistan had closed the border with Afghanistan after the incident, halting Nato supplies going through the country.
“News reports on both television and print media are claiming that NATO aircraft “violated” Pakistan's airspace in the areas of Burqi and Kharlaci on Tuesday, November 2,” the US embassy said.
“This accusation is entirely false. No NATO aircraft violated Pakistani airspace in the areas of Burqi and Kharlaci as alleged in the reports,” the embassy spokesman said.
“This information was confirmed with Pakistan’s Air Defense Command. Coalition and US air operations in Afghanistan conducted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region are closely coordinated with Pakistan's Air Force,” he said in a statement.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30056203
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