Pak troops, US copters trade fire

“On this, the helicopters returned fire and flew back,” the Pakistani military said in an English-language statement.

Amid mounting tensions between Islamabad and foreign forces in Afghanistan over a series of incursions, the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) stressed that the helicopters had not crossed into Pakistani airspace when they came under fire in Khost province, an American news agency reports.

“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,” the International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.

“There are no reports of any damage to the helicopters or any casualties.”

The statement added: “Isaf forces and the Pakistani military are working together to resolve the matter.”

The Pakistan Army said troops fired warning shots at two Nato helicopters after they crossed the border from Afghanistan on Thursday, adding that the choppers returned fire.

“Two helicopters crossed into our territory in Ghulam Khan area (of North Waziristan). They passed over our checkpost so our troops fired warning shots,” chief Army spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas told AFP.

“The helicopters returned fire but there was no damage on the ground.”

Maj Abbas added that the matter was being taken up with the Nato-led Isaf in Kabul through the usual channels between the force and the Pakistani military.

The Pakistan Army said the matter was “being resolved” in consultations between the army and the Nato force in Afghanistan.

Maj Abbas said Pakistan’s Army 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.

A separate military statement said the helicopters were “well within Pakistani territory” when the incident happened.