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NATO to 'thoroughly investigate' Pakistan border incident
Sincere, heartfelt condolences for family members of security forces who may have been killed or injured, says Allen.
Sincere, heartfelt condolences for family members of security forces who may have been killed or injured, says Allen. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
KABUL: The US commander in Afghanistan on Saturday promised a full investigation after Pakistan said a NATO air strike killed at least 23 soldiers, sending his condolences over any troops who may have died.
“This incident has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts,” said General John Allen, commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).
“My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan security forces who may have been killed or injured,” he added in a statement.
In the six months since US commandos killed Osama bin Laden near the Pakistani capital Islamabad without prior warning, Pakistani and US and Afghan officials have traded increasing complaints about cross-border attacks.
Isaf said Saturday it remained “committed to improving security relations” with Pakistan, including the coordination of operations along the border — in many places unmarked — “in our united fight against terrorism”.
Pakistan has frequently accused NATO of violating its airspace in pursuits of Taliban militants, but never before over such a deadly strike.
The last crisis occurred in September 2010 when Pakistan shut the main land route for NATO supplies at Torkham for 11 days after accusing NATO of killing three Pakistani troops in another attack in its northwest.
The border was reopened after the United States formally apologised.
NATO ‘highly likely’ caused Pakistani deaths
A spokesman for NATO-led troops in Afghanistan confirmed that NATO aircraft had been called in to support troops during an incident near the border with Pakistan, and its forces were “highly likely” responsible for deaths of Pakistani soldiers manning a security check post.
“Close air support was called in, in the development of the tactical situation, and it is what highly likely caused the Pakistan casualties,” said Brigadier General Carsten Jacobson, spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). However, he maintained that NATO was investigating the inciden.
“We are aware that there are Pakistani casualties, we don’t know numbers, we don’t know the magnitude of the incident,” he told Reuters.
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apologised and open the border……..apologised and open the border……..apologised and open the border……..apologised and open the border……..apologised and open the border……..apologised and open the border……..apologised and open the border……..
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O you are sorry! that so grateful of you
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Your investigation’s result will be in 1 answer and i.e. “We apologize”. Now the GOP should cut all nato supplies from Pakistani routes. Its the need of hour.
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If they had any cajones, they would not tolerate this kind of treatment by foreign forces. If any other military group from another country carried out a clandestine operation on American soil, we would be at war over them violating our sovereign lands. Pakistan just lets themselves get walked all over. I dont have respect or remorse for a country that allows this to happen to their own people without stepping up and doing something about it. If you want to be independent and free like America, you have to stand up for yourself and kick out any foreigners from your land – even if they are American.Recommend
What are you trying to do ? it appears as if every time you announce firm response, the so called friends call your bluff. This is the most sad day for all the pakistanis today, actions not words are the real need of the time. stop trusting them and better go for quid pro quo responses. i don’t understand why Iran an erstwhile enemy of USA, which shares borders with Afhanistan as well as iraq, has never faced such provocations even once. Iran does not have Nuclear capability but even then the world fears taking any unilateral action against them. Whats wrong with us, is it , that our strength has been converted in to our weakness ?. We need to learn lessons from across our neighborhood and take a corrective course of action.
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More dollars please.
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biggest terrorists
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Of course, NATO will invstigate this very sad situation !!! I am sure they are truely vey sorry !!!!
Just as Pak Army investigated OBL affair and every other incident over period of last decade!!!!
Its a wake up call for Pakistan and the rules of engagement have changed !!!!
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Say ‘sorry’ and promise that you won’t do it again ! That will be 10 million dollars, thank you.
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Time for Pakistan to worry about its own troops and nation. When we were used to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan, we paid the biggest price while the Afghanis ran off to western nations to cry for asylum and live on state assistance. After the West left, we were stuck with all the foreign criminals and fighters who destablized the region. Now we are being targetted for working to defeat extremism in the region. Does the West not understand that they have to work together with Pakistan and not rely on Afghanis and their Indian masters?Recommend
Let this be their 24/11. No need of apoligies, Mr. commander.
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I think this perhaps is a case of mistaken identity or friendly fire !!!!
As such things happen in theatre of war operations !!!!
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That well done… Unless Pakistanis dont stand up for their sovergnity, they deserve this.
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@Grace:
You all keep on saying that Pakistan defeated Russia. If it was not for the USA, you would have been next. Please burn your tainted textbooks and start opening your eyes.
If the Afghans in Pak are all that you say, why has the authorities not done anything to them. Reason: they are hand in hand with all the drug and arms smuggling.
As for working with the ISAF, it was the establishment’s backstabbing by controlling and supporting Haggqani terrorists (this has been confirmed by the establishment). These terrorists have killed USA troops. If this is not enough evidence, please Google any topic and you will get your answers.
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Apology not accepted! What if Pak army throw a missile at an american base in Afghanistan and then say – ooops – sorrrryy! Get out of this land. Otherwise, time is coming when we will throw you out and you will go begging for more money from China cause this “war” didn’t pay enough. America literally has proven “with friends like these, who needs enemies.”Recommend
What if we ( Pakistanis) have did same on NATO in Afghanistan and then Apologized? They would have turn whole world against us
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When is enough ,,, plz can some one tel me ???????????????????
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@Poonam:
Listen Poonam and listen good. I was here in Islamabad when the Afghan war with the Soviets was going on. Oh, and watch “Charlie Wilsons War” or read the book. Pakistan was at the front line of that war, shot down Soviet aircraft entering into our airspace (go to Khyber and you will see the tail fins of their fighter aircraft). Then we took over 5 million afghan refugees of which close to 3 million still remain here causing problems. Then we saved the americans in Mogadishu – Read Black Hawk Down or watch the movie. Oh and as for history, where did Gary Powers take off from on his spy mission over the Soviets in 1962? Peshawar! Then Kruschev threatened us with a nuclear attack if we allowed the Americans to do the same again!. So get your facts straight. Pakistan has given more sacrifices for the US than any other country – and yet they treat us like this. No wonder 90% of Pakistan wants all US presence out of Pakistan NOW. Thank you.Recommend
The question is, will the hang the soldiers involved? If yes, we are OK with it.
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Thats the problem with English language. Sorry and Apologize, one word caretakers.
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@Poonam: Did you know, thats less than the number of indian soldiers butchered by the indian rebels. That happens every week in india. You should have a reminder for every month 1/11, 2/11, 3/11 and so on…
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pakistani lives come cheap to them….more than 35000 people killed including those in todays incident and yet they are just sorryRecommend
who’ll investigate?
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All drama, they would keep targeting like this n keep apologizing n our rulers will keep getting money
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NATO to Pak: We are sorry that we have killed your 24 soldiers.
Pakistan: Oops! Better be careful next time.
That’s what we have become. :(Recommend
Don’t let them finish the war and use Pakistan as an escape goat. Pakistan Army should punish them like they did in the past with the USSR. American knows the strength of Pakistan Army or ISI. This is the time to stop all supplies for NATO through Pakistan. Let them die without food and toilet papers.Recommend
No doubt the skirmish was a terrible blow to the already fraught relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. With the closing of the border crossings at Torkham and Chaman the ISAF have lost their life-line to supply its personnel in Afghanistan. As there were contradictory narrative relating the incident, a full and impartial investigation is needed, to find out the truth. The ISAF stated they were on a mission in the Paktika Province and came under fire from a position within Pakistan, and they received permission from the NATO-headquarters to fire back. My deep condolences to the families of the killed soldiers.
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Would you accept apology from any agency or country who kill your troops/check post guards in confusion ?????
It is such an example of dual standards that it just makes me sick to my stomach. They are just exposing themselves. Talk about sympathizing with families…..May Allah bless the souls of all who lost their lives in the incident. Aameen
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revange of NATO for what they said they will take action last month. They knew the post but still attacked it. Means we will attack more now, better move your posts further in. NATO is planning offensive against H group. This is just a way to move the check post pushed further to create a 1-2 mile wise action area at border.
Message is do whant you can we will come at you till you play ball as per the terms of HH Memo.
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@Poonam: I think you Indians think you are allowed to abuse Kashmiris and deny their right to vote for freedom according to UN resolutions. Then you want to support Afghani criminals to commit crime in Pakistan. Watch out, when you play with fire it will come back to haunt the Indian nation too. You cannot terrorise people in Kashmir forever and your Afghani lackeys may even turn back on their Indian handlers when the West leaves.
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next time when a NATO, US , or the ISAF soldier get killed, we will also offer our ‘heartfelt condolences’…..
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@Hamid: So your figure of 40,000+Paki butchered is false?
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As I understand it, this is a condolence statement for the loss of life but no apology as such for the act itself. An investigation is under way and after it is complete a formal statement would emerge.
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@Maestro: We all know that you were in Islamabad. Yes you were a frontline backed by USA. Without their support the war would not have been won. Russians threat to you was not carried because they knew that USA will respond in kind, therefore saving Pak once again. 99% of Paki want US out but who is listening to you?
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NATO will resume attacking as soon as their apology is accepted
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@maestro:
Yes and Pakistan was handsomely rewarded for services rendered too !!!
So stop bragging about what Pakistan did for USA, as nothing was for free!!!
We have all heard of Mercenary Armies, but here we have a state which is Mercenary !!!!
So its a profession your State has choosen !!!
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Yes NATO must do that and do that correctly and quickly.
NATO has to see the source of intelligence upon which your field commanders took decision of this brutal attack. I am sure, it must be Indian or Indian sponsored source which gave wrong information.
Indians do not want EU to give trade concessions to Pakistan and by getting this done they must be smiling on the fury of Pakistanis.
NATO leave Afghanistan or not but they have to tell Indians to leave Afghanistan ASAP.
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It will be an investigation for by US annd for US and resukt will be same…as WMD in Iraq. Who believes such investigations except those who are in awe with their western masters?
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Now stop giving such these types of hypocritical statements to camouflage your hidden and inner dangerous and hazardous intentions for Pakistan and leave Afghanistan and just protect your own countries’ borders and nations instead of the others.You have been giving such these types of hypocritical statements from a long time and you know that Pakistani leaders can be fooled and deceived easily by saying so.But now the whole ground realities have been changed and hatred intentions are growing in Pakistani nation’s heart on large scale to a great degree which can never be eradicated/removed.
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We want those NATO soldiers who killed our men. We want tit for tat!
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@RizwanTKhan:
We want tit for tat!
LOL !!!!!! Yes, Yes !! You want too much !! But wait for Uncle Sam to decide as to what’s good for you first and than accept whatever he gives you !!!! Got it??
Why is it that Pakistan always wants?? Ever thought about giving ??
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Gentlements, actually NATO knew everything about location of PAK post which obtained by used of sosphiscated technologies equipment, but they’re bluntantly call non-stop airstrike end-up more has been killed, by then they were tried to say sorry but not good enough to calm down the feelings of all Pakistani people,, then would encouraging more hate fenomena to NATO for all aspects. What is next?? wait and see..
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