News
Sunday, November 27, 2011
US stabs Pakistan in the back, again
* 24 Pakistani troops killed as NATO helicopters, fighter jets attack two military outposts in Mohmand* NATO supply trucks, fuel tankers stopped
YAKKAGHUND: NATO helicopters and fighter jets attacked two military outposts in northwest Pakistan on Saturday, killing as many as 24 troops and plunging US-Pakistan relations, already deeply frayed, further into crisis.
The attack is the worst single incident of its kind since Pakistan uneasily allied itself with Washington in the days immediately following the September 11, 2001 attacks on US targets. “This is an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty,” said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. “We will not let any harm come to Pakistan’s sovereignty and solidarity.”
The Foreign Office said it would take up the matter “in the strongest terms” with NATO and the US. The commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, General John R Allen, said he had offered his condolences to the family of any Pakistani soldiers who “may have been killed or injured” during an “incident” on the border. A spokesman for the force declined further comment on the nature of the “incident” and said an investigation was proceeding. The US embassy in Islamabad also offered condolences. “I regret the loss of life of any Pakistani servicemen, and pledge that the United States will work closely with Pakistan to investigate this incident,” ambassador Cameron Munter said in a statement.
Two military officials said that up to 28 troops had been killed and 11 wounded in the attack on the outposts, about 2.5 km from the Afghan border. The Pakistani military said 24 troops were killed and 13 wounded. The attack took place around 2am in the Baizai area of Mohmand. “Pakistani troops effectively responded immediately in self-defence to NATO/ISAF’s aggression with all available weapons,” the Pakistani military statement said. About 40 Pakistani army troops were stationed at the outposts, military sources said. Two officers were reported among the dead.
“The latest attack by NATO forces on our post will have serious repercussions as they without any reasons attacked on our post and killed soldiers asleep,” said a senior Pakistani military officer, requesting anonymity. An Afghan border police official said joint Afghan-NATO troops near the outpost on Saturday morning had detained several militants. NATO supply trucks and fuel tankers bound for Afghanistan were stopped at Jamrud town in the Khyber hours after the raid, officials said. reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk