Helicopters with the Nato force in Afghanistan wounded two Pakistani soldiers yesterday in a cross-border attack, local officials said, a day after the US tried to smooth a row over the killing of Osama bin Laden triggering a strong message from Pakistan.
The two choppers opened fire on an army checkpoint in a restive tribal region in Pakistan's northwest after they were shot at, a Western military official in Kabul said.
The incident took place in Wacha Bibi, 50 kilometres west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, local security officials said.
The Pakistan army lodged a "strong protest" with Nato in Afghanistan over what it says was violation of Pakistani air space.
"Pakistan army has lodged a strong protest and demanded a flag meeting," with Nato officials, a military statement said.
"Two Nato helicopters violated Pakistan air space today at Admi Kot Post, North Waziristan, in the early hours of the morning.
"The troops at the post fired upon the helicopters and, as a result of exchange of fire, two of our soldiers received injuries."
Washington considers the tribal belt a hotbed of al-Qaeda, where Taliban and other militants plot attacks on US troops in Afghanistan and on Western targets.
"Two Nato helicopters committed the airspace violation and shelled an army checkpoint, injuring two soldiers," a senior local security official told AFP.
It comes after the United States launched a raid from Afghanistan on May 2 that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden near Islamabad, in an attack that embarrassed and angered the Pakistani military and leadership.
The two choppers opened fire on an army checkpoint in a restive tribal region in Pakistan's northwest after they were shot at, a Western military official in Kabul said.
The incident took place in Wacha Bibi, 50 kilometres west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, local security officials said.
The Pakistan army lodged a "strong protest" with Nato in Afghanistan over what it says was violation of Pakistani air space.
"Pakistan army has lodged a strong protest and demanded a flag meeting," with Nato officials, a military statement said.
"Two Nato helicopters violated Pakistan air space today at Admi Kot Post, North Waziristan, in the early hours of the morning.
"The troops at the post fired upon the helicopters and, as a result of exchange of fire, two of our soldiers received injuries."
Washington considers the tribal belt a hotbed of al-Qaeda, where Taliban and other militants plot attacks on US troops in Afghanistan and on Western targets.
"Two Nato helicopters committed the airspace violation and shelled an army checkpoint, injuring two soldiers," a senior local security official told AFP.
It comes after the United States launched a raid from Afghanistan on May 2 that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden near Islamabad, in an attack that embarrassed and angered the Pakistani military and leadership.



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