|
|
|
| 10 May 2004 | Monday | 19 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Govt rejects reports on fresh US incursions
ISLAMABAD, May 9: Pakistan on Sunday rejected reports of a fresh incursion by US troops into Pakistani territory in the area bordering Afghanistan.
Reports from Miranshah appearing in the press on Sunday said US forces in four military vehicles had again violated Pakistan's territorial jurisdiction in the North Waziristan Agency on Friday night.
"I will not term it as an incursion," ISPR director general Major Gen Shaukat Sultan said when contacted by Dawn here on Sunday. Giving the background of the incident he said: "The US troops had crossed right in front of the FC post to inquire about firing on the American troops which they thought came from our side (of the border)."
General Sultan said after the FC personnel assured the US troops that there had been no firing from the Pakistani side they returned back. Gen Sultan maintained that Apache attack helicopters supporting the US troops did not violate Pakistani airspace at any point. He said the helicopters were there because the US troops were conducting an operation.
This is the second time in one week that the US troops crossed into Pakistani territory from Afghanistan. The last time when they did so during a night operation they also searched the shops in the area.
Pakistan government lodged a strong protest with the US administration at that time, calling it unwarranted. The Pentagon regretted the incident but said the incursion was inadvertent.
Islamabad has made it clear to Washington that it will not tolerate any 'targeted incursion' or allow 'hot pursuit' inside Pakistani territory by US forces. Military officials on both sides however concede that a major factor for the 'inadvertent' border incursions is that there are no clearly drawn physical boundaries.
|
|
|
|