PESHAWAR, June 9: A United States military helicopter violated Pakistani airspace in the Kurram tribal region on Wednesday as Islamabad lodged a protest with the coalition authorities in Kabul, officials said.

ISPR Director-General Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan confirmed that the US military helicopter intruded 20 kilometers inside Pakistani airspace in Kurram region, about 300 kilometres west of Peshawar, and complain had been made to the US-led coalition officials.

"The government has registered strong protest with the coalition authorities," the ISPR spokesman told Dawn on phone from Islamabad. For the first time, a US helicopter or military plane violated the airspace in this region since the US-led forces launched war in Afghanistan.

Eyewitnesses reached on phone in Parachinar said the US the chopper entered the area at about 12.30pm and remained in the Pakistani airspace for more than 20 minutes.

They said the helicopter, flying at low altitude, made several rounds over Parachinar city, the headquarters of the Kurram region, and flew back towards Afghanistan via Terimangal, west of the city. However, the security forces in the area did not take any notice of the airspace violation, they claimed.

The Pakistani and US military officials held flag meeting at Alwara Mandai in North Waziristan tribal region last month and discussed the incursions of the American forces in the area. The US troops violated the Durand Line thrice in the North Waziristan region last month.