Pakistani Troops
Fire on US Helicopters at Border
By FISNIK ABRASHI
25/09/08 "Associated
Press" --- Pakistani
troops fired at American reconnaissance helicopters patrolling
the Afghan-Pakistan border Thursday, heightening tensions as the
U.S. steps up cross-border operations in a region known as a
haven for Taliban and al-Qaida militants. Pakistan's president
said only "flares" were fired.
Two American OH-58 reconnaissance helicopters, known as Kiowas,
were on a routine afternoon patrol in the eastern province of
Khost when they received small arms fire from a Pakistani border
post, said Tech Sgt. Kevin Wallace, a U.S. military spokesman.
There was no damage to aircraft or crew, officials said.
"They did not cross the border and they did not fire back,"
Wallace said.
The Pakistani military disputed that assertion, saying its
troops fired warning shots when the two helicopters crossed over
the border - and that the U.S. helicopters fired back.
"When the helicopters passed over our border post and were well
within Paskitani territory, own security forces fires
anticipatory warning shots. On this, the helicopters returned
fire and flew back," a Pakistani military statement said.
In New York, Pakistan's new president, Asif Ali Zardari, said
his military fired only "flares" at foreign helicopters that he
claimed had strayed across the border from Afghanistan.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said his forces fired only
as a way "to make sure that they know that they crossed the
border line."
"Sometimes the border is so mixed that they don't realize they
have crossed the border," he told reporters before he began a
meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Pakistani military said the matter was "being resolved" in
consultations between the army and the NATO force in
Afghanistan. A NATO statement said the militaries were "working
together to resolve the matter."
The U.S. has stepped up attacks on suspected militants in the
frontier area, mostly by missiles fired from unmanned drones
operating from Afghanistan. The incursions - especially a ground
raid into South Waziristan by American commandos Sept. 3 - have
angered many Pakistanis.
Pakistani army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said last week
that Pakistani field commanders have previously tolerated
international forces crossing a short way into Pakistan because
of the ill-defined and contested nature of the mountainous
frontier.
"But after the (Sept. 3) incident, the orders are clear," Abbas
said. "In case it happens again in this form, that there is a
very significant detection, which is very definite, no
ambiguity, across the border, on ground or in the air: open
fire."
On Wednesday, Pakistan's army said it had found the wreckage of
a suspected surveillance drone in South Waziristan, but denied
claims by Pakistani intelligence officials that troops and local
people shot down the aircraft.
Abbas said Pakistan's military was awaiting a full report from
Afghanistan on Thursday's shooting, but that Pakistani units had
"very clear" orders not to fire across the border. "We are
getting it investigated," he said.
In Washington, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said
the coalition immediately requested an explanation from Pakistan
for what he described as a "troubling" incident.
"It would be fairly hard to mistake a helicopter flying in that
region as anything but ISAF or U.S.," Whitman said.
He said the militants have always tried to exploit the border
region.
"It's a challenge along the border and that's why we continue to
look for ways to improve our coordination," Whitman said.
Asked how Pakistani forces could mistake U.S. helicopters for
enemy forces - especially since Taliban and al-Qaida forces
don't have aircraft - Whitman said: "Only Pakistan can
articulate their intent."Click on
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