Image via WikipediaPakistani officials denied reports that the NATO air raid was followed in response to Pakistani troops cross border gun fire on coalition and Afghan forces, heightening tensions between Pakistan, the US and NATO.
This comes as Afghan officials said that NATO forces were retaliating for gunfire from the Pakistani side of the volatile border region on Saturday.
Pakistani officials on Monday also claimed, The NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers went on for almost two hours and continued even after Pakistani commanders had pleaded with coalition forces to stop.
The bodies of at least 24 deceased Pakistani soldiers were buried at military headquarters.
In the meantime, Nato has apologised, calling it a “tragic unintended incident”.
Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said the Pakistani troops at two border posts were the victims of an unprovoked aggression.
He also said, he attack lasted almost two hours and that commanders had contacted NATO counterparts while it was going on, asking “they get this fire to cease, but somehow it continued”.
In response to NATO air raid, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called it a “grave infringement of Pakistan’s sovereignty” and officials responded by cutting key supply Pakistani lines to Nato in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal quoted Afghan officials speaking on the basis of anonymity, Saturday’s attack was called in to shield Nato and Afghan forces who were under fire while targeting Taliban fighters.
Washington Time
Kabul Time
London Time
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