At least two Pakistani soldiers were injured in an exchange of fire with Nato helicopters in the Dattakhel area of Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region early on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The violation of Pakistani airspace by Nato helicopters and firing at a Pakistani security post — the Admi Kot border post — has enhanced tension in the border region. The chief Pakistani military spokes-man, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, said, “The troops at the post fired upon the helicopters and, as a result of exchange of fire, two of our soldiers received injuries.” The Pakistan Army lodged a “strong protest” over the incident and demanded a flag meeting, he said.
The border incident comes at a time of strain in the US-Pakistan relationship after US Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden in a raid on a house in Abbottabad.
Meanwhile, visiting US senator John Kerry, chairman of the US foreign affairs committee, said it was important to press the “reset button” on US-Pakistan relations. “Senator John Kerry emphatically wants to dispel the impression that the US is interested in taking over Pakistan’s nuclear installations. He says he can write with his blood that the US has no interest in Pakistan’s nuclear assets...” read a statement from Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s office after Senator Kerry’s meeting with Pakistan’s top civil and military leaderships.