Pakistan outraged over NATO helicopter attack which killed troops

[News_Editor]

Pakistan outraged over NATO helicopter attack which killed troops

2011-11-28 06:05:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Sunday expressed 'the deep sense of rage' felt across the country over Saturday's NATO attack which left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead. Meanwhile, thousands of people took to the streets to protest.

Khar spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss the incident and the decisions made during an emergency meeting of the cabinet's defense committee on Saturday evening. "Foreign Minister Khar stressed that such attacks are totally unacceptable," a spokesperson for the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said following the telephone call.

The incident happened on early Saturday morning when NATO helicopters and fighter aircraft crossed the border from Afghanistan and carried out several airstrikes in the Mohmand Agency of Pakistan's tribal areas, killing 24 Pakistani troops and injuring 13 others. NATO and U.S. officials claim they were returning fire after being fired upon from across the border.

The incident has further crippled the already fragile relationship between the United States and Pakistan, which has been accused of helping terrorists. U.S.-Pakistani relationships also deteriorated earlier this year after the U.S. launched a secret military operation inside Pakistan to kill al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Khar told Clinton that Saturday's border incident demonstrates the "complete disregard for international law and human life, and is in stark violation of Pakistani sovereignty." The minister said the deadly incident negates the progress made by the two countries on improving relations.

Khar also informed Clinton about the government's decision to stop NATO's vital supply routes into Afghanistan and that the United States should vacate the Shamsi military base in Pakistan's Balochistan province within 15 days. The base is used by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to carry out controversial drone strikes against militants in Pakistan.

Also on Sunday, thousands of people took to the streets of Karachi and other cities to show their anger over the border incident. Protesters shouted 'Down with America' and burned American flags as they waved Pakistani flags.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-11-28

[maidu]

This has been headline news for 2 days, but it just now got on T.Visa.

It will be interesting to see the report issued by Nato. My guess is that baddies scurried across the border and received refuge with Pakistani officials. It's no secret that many in the Pakistani military support the Taliban, though publicly they pretend to side with Nato/US troops - in order to keep getting US armnaments and money.

[koheesti]

It will be interesting to see the report issued by Nato. My guess is that baddies scurried across the border and received refuge with Pakistani officials.

I wouldn't surprised if they got killed in the middle of a Pakistani Army - Taliban uniform change. They might as well be one and the same.

[kurtmartens]

More importantly. Someone should tell the Pakistan Govt that it was the Afghan Army that called in the airstrike....saying they were under fire. NATO didn't call in the strike, just responded to the request from our "ally".

[Mosha]

They also said they were going to stop sharing intelligence gathering reports. Like when they told the Americans where Osama was in residence near a top Pakistani military base.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been removed as well as the replies to it.

Since posters can't be civil to each other, you will be restricted to discussing the topic only. It is NOT about nuclear weapons.

[Steely Dan]

Hmm, There's something not quite right here.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/11/nato-braces-for-reprisals-from-pakistani-backed-jihadists-in-retaliation-for-airstrike.html

Nato forces in Afghanistan were braced on Sunday for possible reprisals from Pakistani-backed insurgents following the coalition air strike along the border that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

So why are Nato forces braced for possible reprisals from Pakistani backed insurgents for supposedly killing 24 Pakistani soldiers? Aren't the Taliban and other radical Islamists on opposite sides to the Pakistani army or is it possible that the Pakistani army (and presumably their government) side with the radicals? I think we should be told, especially whoever sanctions overseas aid to Pakistan.

[Ulysses G.]

You bring up an interesting point. One would think the Taliban would be happy about the US killing their "enemies".

[RickBradford]

A cynic would suggest that sometimes you have to arrange these little 'accidents' to get the attention of people who are giving you a hard time.

Of course, you apologise and even pay compensation, but you know the point has been made. It is muscular diplomacy -- another example might be the Iran Air 655 shootdown.