Pak troops, US copters trade fire

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani security forces Thursday fired anticipatory warning shots on two NATO-led US helicopters when they entered Pakistan’s territory at 3.30pm in Saidgai area of Ghulam Khan Sector, North Waziristan Agency.

An ISPR spokesman said that the helicopters also returned fire and flew back, adding the matter was reported to ISAF Headquarters to resolve the issue through existing coordination and communication channel between Pakistan Army and ISAF.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan-based NATO forces, confirming the incident, ruled out any damage to the helicopters or any causality. “ISAF helicopters received small-arms fire from a Pakistan military checkpoint along the border near Tanai District, Khost, September 25 while conducting routine operations in Afghanistan,” it said in a media statement.

The statement also added, “ISAF forces and the Pakistani military are working together to resolve the matter”.  

Agencies add: Pakistani troops fired at Nato-led helicopters operating in eastern Afghanistan, the international force said, adding that there was no damage or casualties.

The incident underscored the heightened tensions along the border in the face of a growing insurgency in Afghanistan allegedly supported from sanctuaries inside Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Pakistani and American ground troops exchanged fire along the border after the incident, according to the International Herald Tribune.

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 US military spokesman in Kabul. 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 Pakistan Army disputed that assertion, saying troops fired warning shots after the helicopters crossed “well within” Pakistani territory.