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Act of aggression, says Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Tensions between the militaries of the United States and Pakistan hit a new high on Wednesday after an air strike by coalition forces in Afghanistan killed 11 Pakistani soldiers in a frontier tribal region.

Pakistan condemned the attack as “unprovoked and cowardly”, and said it was a “gross violation of the international border” between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The air strike late on Tuesday hit a Frontier Corps border check post in Mohamand Agency, resulting in the death of 11 security personnel including an officer, and injuries to several others.

A military spokesman said it was an “act of aggression” that would undermine the “common cause of fighting terrorism.”

Blaming the U.S.-led coalition forces for the attack, he said “the incident had hit at the very basis of cooperation and sacrifice with which Pakistani soldiers are supporting the Coalition in war against terror”.

The Pakistan Army said it had lodged a “strong protest” with the coalition forces, and “we reserve the right to protect our citizens and soldiers against aggression”.

In a separate statement, the Foreign Ministry said “the senseless use of air power against a Pakistani border post” was “totally unacceptable.”

A Ministry statement said the attack “constitutes a blatant and wilful negation of the huge sacrifices” by Pakistan in the “war on terror.”

The Ministry said the incident ought to warrant a “serious rethink” by the coalition forces on the consequences of such “rash acts.” It demanded an investigation into the incident and asked that the results be shared with the Pakistan government.

The Ministry said it had lodged a strong protest with the coalition forces in Afghanistan through diplomatic channels.

This is the first time that Pakistan has come out so strongly against a coalition attack on its territory. Despite public anger at such attacks earlier as an infringement of Pakistani sovereignty, official criticism was muted under the Musharraf regime.

Even as late as last month’s predator strike in Damadola that killed a dozen people, Pakistan lodged a protest with the coalition forces, but refrained from hitting out in public.

The latest attack and Pakistan’s strong reaction came on the eve of a donor conference for Afghanistan in Paris.

Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan, particularly the two militaries is said to be at its lowest since 9/11, particularly after the new PPP-led government began doing peace deals with militants in the tribal areas.

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