Attack on Shkin repulsed: US - No operation took place - ISPR
By Arshad Sharif
ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: The US authorities on Nov 3 conducted what they called a 'historic combined operation' with Pakistani and Afghan troops to defend the border town of Shkin in Afghanistan when it came under a rocket attack from militants, it is learnt on Tuesday through US diplomatic and military sources.
Officials in the US embassy at Islamabad and the US Central Command (Centcom) in Kabul confirmed the operation and said the US had handed over PRC-77 radios to Pakistani soldiers for coordinating the combined action against the rocket attack.
"Afghan, Pakistan and US soldiers joined efforts to defend the Afghanistan town of Shkin when it came under a rocket attack on Nov 3. Soldiers from these three nations conducted a coordinated attack against militant forces in the border region between Shkin (Afghanistan) and Wana (Pakistan)," the Centcom said.
Shkin, it said, came under fire from anti-coalition forces operating near the Afghan-Pakistan border late on Nov 3.
"Having a better view of the target area from their border checkpoint in Pakistan, Pakistani soldiers adjusted US artillery counter-battery fire for the Afghan and US forces on the Afghan side of the border. This was done using US PRC-77 radios that were transferred to the Pakistanis just two days prior (to the operation)," said the US Centcom.
It said no battle damage assessments were available but the operation reflected the commitment of Pakistan to fight terrorism as well as the strong ties that had been built between neighbouring countries.
"Together we will capture, kill or drive out terrorists so that people in this region can live in peace. In doing so, we are sending a poignant message to the terrorists that we will capture or kill them wherever they are," said the US officials. However, Pakistani military authorities denied that any operation had taken place on Nov 3.
Inter-Services Public Relations chief Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said: "I was myself in Wana with PTV team and Nov 3 was absolutely quiet."
"I reject it outrightly," said the ISI director-general when asked if the operation had taken place.
In reply to a question about the transfer of PRC-77 radio sets to Pakistan by the US authorities on Nov 1, Maj-Gen Sultan denied any such transfer. He said PRC-77 was an outdated technology that had been phased out by the Pakistan Army some 20 years ago.
ISPR clarifies Shkin report
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Clarifying remarks attributed to the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations in a report headlined "Attack on Shkin repulsed" (Dawn, Nov 10 issue), the ISPR said in a press release issued on Wednesday that the remarks had been offered for "joint operation within Pakistani territory" and "there was no joint operation conducted on 3rd November, 2004".
The press release said that Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan had categorically stated that he could not comment on operations on the other side of the border.
