Nato says its aircraft entered Pakistan in self defence

Nato says its aircraft entered Pakistan in self defence

KABUL: Nato said its aircraft entered Pakistani airspace early Thursday in self defence and killed "several armed individuals" after air crews believed they had been fired at from the ground.

After striking what was believed to be an insurgent group, "the aircraft received what the crews assessed as effective small arms fire from individuals just across the border in Pakistan," Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said in a statement.

"Operating in self defense, the Isaf aircraft entered into Pakistani airspace killing several armed individuals," it said.

A Pakistan military spokesman in a statement said two helicopters from Afghanistan used cannon fire against an outpost of the Frontier Corps located 200 metres (650 feet) inside Pakistan.

Troops present at the post manned by six soldiers "retaliated through rifle fire to indicate that the helicopters were crossing into our territory," the spokesman said.

"Instead of heeding to the warning, helicopters went to fire two missiles, destroying the post. As a result, three FC soldiers have embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and three have been injured."

Isaf said it had been informed by Pakistani military officials that members of their border forces had been hit by coalition aircraft and said a review was underway "to verify the exact location of the two engagements and the facts".

"Both sides have in mind that it is the insurgents, operating on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and violating the territorial sovereignty of
both countries, that we are focused on fighting," Isaf said.

Pakistan has condemned cross-border air strikes by Nato helicopters pursuing militants into its territory. Nato has said previously it has the right to self-defence.

Isaf said its crews had "observed what it believed was a group of insurgents attempting to fire mortars at a coalition base in the border area of Dand Patan district, Paktiya province.

"An Isaf air weapons team was called to provide fire support and engaged the suspected insurgents' firing position, located inside Afghanistan along the border area.

"Isaf aircraft did enter into Pakistani airspace briefly as they engaged this initial target," it said.