Thursday, September 25, 2008

Pakistan army fires on US helicopter

An American helicopter, apparently working with NATO's ISAF, was fired upon from Pakistani positions. The Pakistanis say it was in their airspace; American officials deny wrongdoing.

From Reuters:

NATO Says Fired On From Pakistani Checkpoint

KABUL, Sept 25 - The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has said its helicopters were fired on from a Pakistani military checkpoint along the eastern border.

There were no reports of any damage to the helicopters or any casualties, it said.

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

"At no time did ISAF helicopters cross into Pakistani airspace," it said... (link)
Pakistan's version of events:
"There were two helicopters from Afghanistan that crossed into Pakistani territory," said the spokesman, Major-General Athar Abbas. "Our soldiers fired warning shots and those helicopters returned fire and flew back." (link)
American officials confirmed they were US choppers:
"They were U.S. helicopters," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters at a briefing. "The flight path of the helicopters at no point took them over Pakistan." (link)

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