Pakistan censures US over airstrike

Pakistan criticized the US after a NATO airstrike on a military post in the Mohmand tribal region. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185171.html

Pakistan has criticized the United States over a NATO jet fighter attack on a military post in a tribal region on the border with Afghanistan.

"Pakistan's serious concern over the air incursion has been conveyed to the US Embassy in Islamabad," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said.

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday saying that the attack happened in the Ziarat post, which is located 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the border with Afghanistan in the Mohmand tribal region of northwestern Pakistan, AFP reported.

There were no reports of any deaths in the attack, and the Foreign Ministry did not say when the incursion happened.

A Pakistani security official said, "At least two foreign fighter jets violated Pakistan's airspace on Friday and dropped six bombs near the post."

Janjua said Islamabad had launched an inquiry, adding that the US and NATO were also investigating the incident.

The Pakistani military has often accused NATO of violating Pakistan's airspace in the "hunt for Taliban militants who launch attacks in Afghanistan before fleeing back across the border."

The northwestern tribal areas of Pakistan have reportedly been targeted by more than 100 US drone strikes since last year.

Relations between Islamabad and Washington have deteriorated since a US attack in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad allegedly killed al-Qaeda Leader Osama bin Laden on May 2 (May 1 Washington time).