Update as of 1300 Eastern Time:
Pakistan Forces fire on US Helicopters.
From Fox News:
Pakistani troops fired on U.S. helicopters patrolling eastern Afganistan Thursday, the Pentagon said, adding that it expects an explanation from Pakistani officials.
Two American OH-58 reconnaissance helicopters, known as Kiowas, were on a routine afternoon patrol in the eastern province of Khost when they received small arms fire from a Pakistani border post, said Tech Sgt. Kevin Wallace, a U.S. military spokesman. There was no damage to aircraft or crew, officials said.
"They did not cross the border and they did not fire back," Wallace said.
The Pakistani military disputed that assertion, saying its troops fired warning shots when the two helicopters crossed over the border — and that the U.S. helicopters fired back.
"When the helicopters passed over our border post and were well within Paskitani territory, own security forces fires anticipatory warning shots. On this, the helicopters returned fire and flew back," a Pakistani military statement said.
Pakistan's new president said that his military fired only "flares" at foreign helicopters that he claimed had strayed across the border from Afghanistan into his country.
From NY Times:
Pakistani troops fired at American reconnaissance helicopters patrolling the Afghan-Pakistan border Thursday, heightening tensions as the U.S. steps up cross-border operations in a region known as a haven for Taliban and al-Qaida militants. Pakistan's president said only ''flares'' were fired.
Two American OH-58 reconnaissance helicopters, known as Kiowas, were on a routine afternoon patrol in the eastern province of Khost when they received small arms fire from a Pakistani border post, said Tech Sgt. Kevin Wallace, a U.S. military spokesman. There was no damage to aircraft or crew, officials said.
''They did not cross the border and they did not fire back,'' Wallace said.
The Pakistani military disputed that assertion, saying its troops fired warning shots when the two helicopters crossed over the border -- and that the U.S. helicopters fired back.
''When the helicopters passed over our border post and were well within Paskitani territory, own security forces fires anticipatory warning shots. On this, the helicopters returned fire and flew back,'' a Pakistani military statement said.
In New York, Pakistan's new president, Asif Ali Zardari, said his military fired only ''flares'' at foreign helicopters that he claimed had strayed across the border from Afghanistan.
God Bless America
Bryan
Sphere: Related Content
Melancholy
26 minutes ago
Posts
2 comments:
You know, when Pakistan announced it would allow its troops to fire on US aircraft and troops if they strayed across the border, I knew something like this would happen. short of spray painting a nice big yellow line down the whole border or errecting a fence (this might be a good idea to slow the Taliban down) its difficult to determine where the border is.
I know with GPS, the helos have a better guide of knowing where the border is. I'm going to assume there is some type of recording being made on the aircraft such as GPS coordinates and video to prove it either way.
Good grief someone or someones are going to be accidently on purpose killed.
Rangersgirl,
Thats a huge problem, where there is a border post along the border, you can clearly define where it is at. Where there isnt a border post, which is a lot of the place, theres no border per say on the ground.
With GPS, yes our boys know where they are. Thats never a questions. My question becomes; is this a situation where a mistake was made, or was this a deliberate action?
Was this PAKMIL firing from the border post? Or was this a militia group...AKA Taliban? Or rather a regular unit working in concert with the Taliban?
That is what Im very curious and concerned to see now.
Bryan
Post a Comment