Nato helicopters violate Pakistani airspace near Pak-Afghan border

E-Paper | May 07, 2026

PESHAWAR: Nato gunship helicopters violated Pakistani airspace and entered Pakistani territory where they stayed for 10 minutes before returning, official sources told Dawn.

At least five helicopters were seen flying near the Pak-Afghan border and two of them entered Pakistani territory in Torkham and Pasidkhel.

The helicopters remained in Pakistani airspace for 10 minutes and returned without any action.

Sources said the helicopters crossed over through Shamshad mountains situated between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

A few days back, Nato had carried out a massive assault on Taliban positions in the Shamshad mountains and had killed scores of Afghan Taliban members.

Pakistan is yet to respond to the violation and it hasn’t yet been ascertained whether the incursion was deliberate or a slipping over of the helicopters into Pakistani airspace during routine patrolling on account of the rugged mountainous terrain.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

KP PDMA directs deputy commissioners to take precuationary measures ahead of heatwave

Political leaders being consulted for Islamabad protest: CM Afridi

Dilapidated bridge puts Chitral villagers’ lives in danger

saad saeed

Oct 15, 2014 11:34am

As if it is something Pakistan dislikes. It has been happening for the last 8 years

Recommend 0

Usman

Oct 15, 2014 11:47am

Who do we think will speak against border violation? No one because our government doesnot have guts to speak. We lack a true leadership.

Recommend 0

raja hindustani

Oct 15, 2014 12:01pm

Complain to UN.:)

Recommend 0

Amin Ansari

Oct 15, 2014 12:07pm

@Usman True leadership is on top of a container on Constitution Avenue. Its not inside the parliament.

Recommend 0

anshul

Oct 15, 2014 12:07pm

Write a letter to UN

Recommend 0

imran

Oct 15, 2014 12:09pm

beggars cant be choosers

Recommend 0

Karimullah

Oct 15, 2014 12:51pm

Okay, NATO helicopters violated Pak airspace. What Pak will do or can do?

Recommend 0

El Cid

Oct 15, 2014 12:58pm

So what's new. The invaders know that Pakistani defenses have been rendered impotent. Has no one noticed the tea vender next door loud mouthing, threatening in the most unbecoming manner for a head of state. PAF can do nothing more than drop bombs on villagers who can't shoot back. How totally have one of the most aggressive technically skilled macho Pak warriors been emasculated. Burqa and bangles anyone?

Recommend 0

Vince V James

Oct 15, 2014 01:03pm

Why did the Pakistani forces not shot them down, as the Americans or NATO would have done to Pakistani helicopters?

Recommend 0

Inqelabzindabad

Oct 15, 2014 01:14pm

@Karimullah They can strongly condemn and write to UN.

Recommend 0

Taimoor Khan

Oct 15, 2014 01:14pm

This is what happened when we got NRO'ed and foreign backed governments in charge of Pakistan. Need tabdeli asap.

Recommend 0

fdp

Oct 15, 2014 02:10pm

Write a latter to ban ki moon :P

Recommend 0

ravi

Oct 15, 2014 02:28pm

Why r helicopters hovering near those mountains in first place. How much is enough is never really understood in pakistan.

Recommend 0

Sahab

Oct 15, 2014 02:34pm

I believe a letter to UN would scare them

Recommend 0

Jat

Oct 15, 2014 02:59pm

For full ten minutes the American helicopters were inside Pakistan and what was the PAF and Army doing ? Waving at them ? It is time to send Air Marshal Latif and Air Marshal Chaudhary to the border immediately.

Recommend 0

Jat

Oct 15, 2014 03:00pm

The Pakistan Air Force should give a befitting reply to the Americans. Enough is enough...

Recommend 0

JAVED RAHMAN

Oct 15, 2014 03:09pm

Shoot down these helicopters

Recommend 0

pakistani

Oct 15, 2014 03:37pm

Why don't we shot them down next time they do that.

Recommend 0

Rohit Sen (Singapore)

Oct 15, 2014 03:38pm

Am sure many Pakistanis are enraged by this and rightly so... but it is the Pakistanis who show selective outrage. If China does the same thing today... no one will say a word. Pakistan does not act as a peer.. its acts like a pet looking for a master.. Last century it did USA's bidding.. now its China's poodle. If Pakistan does not act respectfully.. it cant expect respect

Recommend 0

Sats

Oct 15, 2014 03:45pm

If you dare shoot

Recommend 0

CitizenNewindia

Oct 15, 2014 03:49pm

Good... Now they come to know of Violation..

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 15, 2014 05:46pm

What else can they do?

Recommend 0

Sunil

Oct 15, 2014 07:24pm

Can Pakistan have the courage to shoot down? And Pakistan is a non-NATO member.

Recommend 0

Ahmer

Oct 15, 2014 08:53pm

This cannot be tolerated.

Recommend 0

sohrab

Oct 15, 2014 08:57pm

Lets complain to Ban Ki Moon.

Recommend 0

cautious

Oct 15, 2014 09:16pm

In case you guys forgot these helicopters are attacking the Taliban who control the Afghan/Pakistan border -- you know the "bad guys". The fact that most of the comments are anti USA/West/NATO tells you everything about your commitment to fighting the Taliban.

Recommend 0

kamran

Oct 15, 2014 09:22pm

@Vince V James they didnt shoot them because pakistan is afraid that it will get in trouble with usa and nato amercans have no such worries.

Recommend 0

international villager

Oct 15, 2014 09:50pm

Are drones any different? Why so much hypocrisy?

Recommend 0

international villager

Oct 15, 2014 09:54pm

Because Pakistan just got 1.1bn from IMF

Recommend 0

Oct 17, 2014 10:13am

Aren't we both fighting for the same cause against the same enemy? They're clearing out that part of the border and our army is clearing out this part.. so why all the fuss about some border violations? I say if they have the technology to kill the terrorists more effectively, let them come and do the job for us.. I see no loss in it. After all we are "allies"

Recommend 0