3 hurt as Nato copters fire into NWA

PESHAWAR At least six militants were killed when a US drone targeted a vehicle in Pir Kalay area of North Waziristan Agency on Friday. The vehicle was targeted some 10 kilometres east of Miranshah, headquarter of North Waziristan Agency. Sources in political authorities confirmed the attack and casualties. However the identity of the deceased was not confirmed till filing of this report. Agencies add: Two Nato helicopters Friday fired into the North Waziristan Agency and injured three people, local sources told Chinas Xinhua news agency. Witnesses said two Nato helicopters were hovering for 10 minutes and then fired at Lawra Mandi village of Datta Khel in North Waziristan. The village is one kilometre to the border. Local administration confirmed the attack, saying the three injured have been shifted to a hospital in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan. It was not the first time that Nato helicopters fighting in the neighbouring Afghanistan have violated the Pakistani territory. Weeks ago, some Nato helicopters fired at some suspected militants hideouts on the Pakistani side, killing three Pakistani troops. Our staff reporter from Islamabad adds: A spokesperson of the ISPR Friday contradicted the media reports that two Nato gunship helicopters violated Pakistani airspace and opened fire in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan Agency. These are totally baseless and incorrect reports, the spokesperson said. Earlier some media reports had claimed that at least three people were wounded when two Nato gunship helicopters opened fire in North Waziristans Dattakhel area after violating Pakistani airspace on Friday. The reports said that the helicopters, incurring several kilometres into Pakistani territory, struck the Lowara Mandi village in Dattakhel.

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