(Read more: Kabul delivers rebuke to Pakistan envoy)
Asked if there was a recent rise in artillery or rocket fire across the border into Afghanistan, press secretary George Little told reporters in an email: "This summer, June-August, we did see an increase in cross border incidents."
The Pentagon offered no other details and did not link the trend to the May raid by Navy SEAL commandos deep inside Pakistan that took out al Qaeda's leader.
But US soldiers at bases in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province told the New York Times that rocket fire had dramatically increased from Pakistani territory since May.
It was unclear if the fire, usually 107mm rockets, was the result of an emboldened insurgency, retaliation by the Pakistani military or some mixture of both, the Times reported Monday, quoting US military officers.
In some cases the rocket fire came from insurgent positions just inside Afghanistan, with crews then rushing back across to Pakistan, the newspaper wrote.
There were at least 102 "close-border" attacks against three US outposts in Paktika since May, compared to 13 such incidents during the same period last year, it said.
When contacted by US troops, Pakistani military officers at the border often say they are not aware of the rocket fire or cannot see it, even though the fire is often coming from positions next to Pakistani military or Frontier Corps posts, the Times reported.
Given the degree of sophistication and coordination displayed in the attacks, some US officers strongly suspect the Pakistani military or intelligence service is involved in the rocket fire, the paper said.
The rise in cross-border fire comes amid deep strains in US-Pakistan relations in the aftermath of the Bin Laden raid and following accusations from former top US military officer Admiral Mike Mullen that Islamabad was supporting Haqqani militant attacks on US forces in Afghanistan.
COMMENTS (49)
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@Salman: Mr. Salman, are you suggesting that your comment was a tit-for-tat type response to some poster whose post irked you? You surely made it sound like you guys own Afghanistan :) That's how Deep State has treated Afghanistan anyways after Russians left that country. Time to move on and leave Afghanistan alone.
You also say - "They have used Pak Army for their interest and now they can’t hold it Afghanistan and trying to pressurize Pak" Are you implying that Pak Army is that docile and leadership-less that anyone can use it for their interest? Pak army wanted to get used by US. In return, they got tons of weapons and money. There is a youtube clip of Mr. Najam Sethi with an excellent description of Pak/US relationship (Aapas Ki Baat).
Sincerely!
@hindustan ki shakti: Your thinking is totally wrong..That what we have been trying to say why US attack on Afghanistan and Iraq at first place. just for one man? They have used Pak Army for their interest and now they can't hold it Afghanistan and trying to pressurize Pak. There was no need to attack a country for one man if they can kill Osama in Pakistan why they didn't do it in Afghanistan. Osama was their beloved when Soviet was attack Afghanistan.
@Salman: Salman bhai, sorry if i have caused u pain. But you may please note that the NUKES developed by your country, fighter jets available in your country - all this stuff has been purchased because u get AId from various countries. AID from US, China, AID from IRAN & other arabian countries to fight non muslims. Without aid u would'nt even be able to defend yourself. All the pressure u r facing now from US is just because you have eaten lot of AID from them. US lawmakers are under pressure from their public that why US's taxpayers money is being given to pakistan when the same is used against their(US) own forces.
@Nate Gupta: So you just answer to your question man.. Who told you to spoke for US?? There were no comments against India or Indians before Mr. Bruteforce comments.. Trying to malign Pakistan or Pakistanis isn't tolerated. On these forums.
@Nate Gupta:
If a foreign force intrude in your country and your countrymen / armed forces would react against by fighting fiercely so who is the Braveheart ? Ofcourse your countrymen / armed forces. I am talking about Pakistani military which is overcommitted and over-fatigued at multiple fronts like Eastern desert belt / border (albeit not in a state of war but still red-alert most likely) , Western borders ; as evident, Swat skirmishes still ongoing , upper/lower Dir , Chitral , Sciachin area, Kashmir areas and also Search and Rescue in flooded areas. But still these guys have high morale which is really praise-worthy.
Dear Moderator,
No issue if you don't post my earlier comments.
But the gist is only Pakistan can stop total disintegration of fibre of unity in south eastern Asia.
My simple question. Did pak army moved some of their unit from eastern borders to it's western border?
If so India is any more enemy?
Fact is that Pakistan destined to ruin communal break up of whole subcontinent, where I am also a part.
This I am seeing in near visinity.
Only Pakistan can save India!
does any one hear?
My fellow Pakistanis would be well advised not to just beat their chests and pretend that Pakistan is doing nothing wrong. We cannot live in delusion forever. This is what is killing Pakistan.
The US has a legitimate gripe but we don't see any evil in Pakistan. We are perfect.
@Shepherd: GOOD LUCK TO THE BRAVEHEARTS ! ! ! Mr. Shepherd, who are you calling Brave hearts? It surely is not Al Qaida or Taliban terrorists and their followers, is it? They blow up minorities' places of worship... they kill fellow muslims... they beat small children with iron rods in educational institutes.
Brave hearts? Who? How?
LOL --- ask Saddam's ghost how long it took the USA to destroy his artillery - was it 36 hrs or 48? Not wise to take pot shots at the USA - would not get caught with the smoking gun if I were in your shoes.
@Iftikhar-u-Rahman:
Who are those militants who are killed in every day's drone strikes? If you say they are not TTP fighters then who? Afghan Taliban? Well, then it really contradicts your (possible) and your government's patriot argument that there are no Afghan Taliban on the Pakistani soil.
@hindustan ki shakti: Mr.Shakti Kapoor. The Aid US given to us doesn't for me it for the lame politicians. Where did you get these info. (kam se kam apna naam to real use ker liya kro)
@markh If u have any doubt than say to ur americans that plz 1 more time than that is her last attack as a super power I challenge u...
Hamid Karzai has already blamed media for exaggration on rocket attacks. A slap on face of US media................
The barrier that paki side wanted to build is not their real border, that is why they( Afghan ) refuse.
How tragic, the protegies are taking on their masters. Thanks to Pakistan, India secured its border by errecting barbed wire fence all along its border along with large number of border posts, which are well manned. Moreover, Indian security forces are giving a hot reception to the Pak assets and killing scores of them during every intrusion attempt made. I am afraid Pakistan will have to take similar measures on Afghan border which India took since it is going to face both Talebans together in the future scenario who are hell bent to enforce sharia on this country.
@Salman: You're right. And its about time too.
Good Job Army if its true! NATO & ISAF have turned a blind eye against the ones who attack Pakistan & then take refugee in Afghanistan.
@Salman:
galat baat sir,
EVEN AFTER TAKING AID FROM THEM ,YOU BARK ON THEM .
QUESTION . >>>>> Can US DIRECTLY ATTACK PAKISTAN after all this nonsense they are trying to prove???
ANSWER. >>>>> NO . . . US is not at all in the position to wage war in any other new country . . . There domestic and global conditions will never allow them to invade a Nuclear armed Pakistan . . . . .
There are ONLY two ways they can wage war . they are : 1> With the help of India OR 2> By supporting the TTP and other terrorists and insurgents Organizations. . .
These are the only two fronts in which Pakistan can be attacked . ... US can't attack us from Afghanistan Insha Allah . .. . .
@Nasir: Wat a funny comment.. Man I bet you couldn't run a mile.. On this rough terrain you think that Terrorist go to Kabul and with a blink of an eye they got back in Pakistan. You should see the map.
@BruteForce: you need to be wakeup this is a difference between us and u. When we said US it doesn't mean that we are against Americans.. it means only for their military adventures all over the world. Also for you Mr Dan.
A saying in Pakhtoons that a wolf was on the upper side of a water stream blame the down goat for poluting water. a excuse for attacking goat.this apply to American as wolf. But keep in mind that a group of Pakhtoon Talibans has fight for 11 years full nation will follow you till ur shaky united stats. do not wakeup the lions.
It is a recorded fact that the US always faced a defeat anywhere they attacked. Initially they gain little bit victory but in the later stages they are forced ferociously to withdraw as it happened in Vietnam , Laos and Korea. Problem with Pakistanis is that they are disunited since their inception but there is yet one thing which makes them "Larger that Life" and that is their unanticipated affinity for the Pakistani Soil during hours of affliction as it is approaching from Afg side near Ghulam Khan village near Pakistan-Afghanistan border. GOOD LUCK TO THE BRAVEHEARTS ! ! !
tit for tat...why US soldiers are crying now?? now face the music..they think that only they have got the right to kill innocent muslims in pakistan, afghanistan n round the world but no one can harm them a little bit..where was pentagon when the US drone attacks were killing hundreds of pakistani people..and still they are killing us every day..more than 2500 people have been killed in these attacks n only 35 of them were wanted. What about others??.. America is just an satanic state n following the satanic mission...
@Dilawer: Thanks for pointing that out. It will be a good reminder for the people worried about the economy. It's Pakistan, not Iraq or Afghanistan, so it really won't cost that much.
I remember.. Once Pakistan propose to build barrier on Pak Afghan Border but US and Afghan puppet govt refuse it.. Because it will harm their interest.
US drones always kill high profile terrorists with no civil causalities. Pak artillery is killing innocent Afghans. Actually all terrorists living in Pak side when enter into Afghanistan immediately become innocent Afghans.
This news report makes no mention of the fact that cross-border attacks into Pakistan from the Afghan side of the border are also on the rise.
Those attacks into Pakistan especially spiked up in frequency and severity right after a summit meeting between the Pakistani government and the Afghan High Peace Council in which both sides agreed to work out a new political order in Afghanistan that would accommodate all regional stakeholders but in which the US would have no defined role. Obviously something is very fishy here!
The US/NATO refuse to go after the terrorists that operate openly in Afghanistan, if they did, Pakistan wouldn't need to attack Afghanistan.
@starboy: Actually the Americans are supporting these TTP TERRORISTS, that's why they are not killing their own puppets.
We have same compliant from NATO and ISAF. They should hunt and kill Mullah Fazal Ullah and his group having nice time in Afghanistan and periodically attacking on Pakistani Post along the border.
@BruteForce: Hahaha Karma..U R right.. US trained them and they are now haunted by them. This will be the same thing happen to u, if India Keep poking their nose in Afghanistan
USians are not so stupid that after violating sovereignty of Pakistan everyday they complain that Pakistan is doing so, but, at least they think all others especially Pakistani are definitely stupid.
When india said the same thing few years ago US ignored it. This is what is called Karma. As for the Pakistanis are concerned Karma is giving it back with interest.
@starboy: Nice Bro.. yet they don't use it in Afghanistan to kill drug lords or poppy crops.. hahaha funny isn't?
@Noor:
This might be an excuse for NATO and the US. But, for the common Afghans it's a nightmare they are having since the fall of the Taliban regime.
USA beware this is pakistan not iraq nor afghanistan.
America want to be a lion of the world which is imposibl
now what? a new step for another " long term relationship " and " fake friendship " for Pakistan?
What is NATO 140000 solders with one of the most advanced technology in the world doing in afghanistan. Everyday Armed militants from afghanistan enter pakistan & attack pakistan army. If America with one of the most lethal & advanced machinery in the history of mankind can not stop militants from afghanistan entering into pakistan & killing pak army, how can they demand from pakistan to do the same. Is not it america,s responsibility to stop cross border terrorism. When america can come to pakistan every 2nd day & kill people with drones, why donot they kill those militants with drones when they enter pakistan.
Did you hear the story about the wolf who shouted at the lamb. "You're making my water muddy."?
They are now trying to find an excuse to attack!
Vienna,18-10-2011 The incidents under watch,counter measures are under process. Interaction through official contacts are to taken seriously instead of considering them an opportunity for denial.Flood of information keep American policy makers always busy.The policies are meant for implementation.What are the Pakistani responses, a single "NO".Be realistic different issues are addressed diferently not by a single response. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
What about that cross border attack from Afghanistan that recently killed 9 Pakistani soldiers ? There are more casualities on Pakistan side because of infiltration from Afghan side. Stop that first then come to complain Pakistan. You call us ally and expect us to be your body guard. Thats not one sided relation. Pakistan is not here to protect American soldiers any more.
The establishment's policy of Strategic Assets stands exposed for all to see. Giving covering fire to strategic assets as they attack Afghanistan will no longer work. Does the Civlian leaders of Pakistan even have a clue what's going on ?
Finally Some Action!!!