ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with the coalition forces in Afghanistan over the incident of firing which had claimed eight lives, according to a Foreign Office spokesperson.

Ms Tasnim Aslam, the FO spokesperson, told a weekly press briefing that the American troops did not enter Pakistani territory but Pakistan “did receive fire from across the border”.

“At the moment while we know the fire came from across the border we do not know who initiated it and we are trying to ascertain the facts,” she said.

She said the Americans had denied any involvement of their troops in the recent reported attack in the tribal belt. However, she said the government had initiated an inquiry into the incident and also lodged a strong protest with the coalition forces in Afghanistan as they were responsible for the security on the other side.

Referring to reports by the locals that a helicopter landed on Pakistan side and then took off, she said the incident was also being investigated by the government and the Coalition forces.

Regarding reports that the helicopter had picked up five local tribesmen, Ms Aslam said: “This is not our information, what we have learnt from the locals is that a helicopter landed and then it took off.”

She told a questioner that such issues were discussed at the Tripartite Commission. —Q.A.