PAKISTAN:PAKISTANI TROOPS fired on US forces entering the country's lawless tribal region yesterday, marking a further deterioration in ties between the two allies in the "war on terror".
Details of the incident in south Waziristan were unclear but, according to local security officials and tribesmen, two US helicopters breached Pakistani airspace in the early hours, but retreated when they came under fire.
The US forces were likely to have been on a hit-and-withdraw mission against suspected militants in the area, similar to the first documented American ground raid into the tribal territory this month when helicopters flew in commandos. That enraged Pakistan's army and public.
A security official in south Waziristan said yesterday: "American helicopters came and there was a space [border] violation. Pakistani scouts [paramilitary troops] fired artillery as a warning and they left. The helicopters did not land."
Other reports said troops had fired at the helicopters, which were just inside Pakistani territory. One official said Pakistani soldiers based at a frontier checkpost known as BP-27 had fired.
The Pakistani army admitted that a skirmish took place, but denied that its troops were involved. The US military denied there had been any operation. "We did not have any forces or helicopters on or near the border," said Mark Swart, a spokesman for the American military at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan.
The US raid earlier this month, which killed up to 20 people including civilians, was finally admitted by the Pentagon, but not on the record.
The US believes that the tribal area is used as a safe haven by Taliban and al-Qaeda militants who are fighting US and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Last week, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said a new strategy for Afghanistan was needed that incorporated the tribal territory. President George Bush is believed to have signed a secret order allowing US forces to operate in the tribal area, even though the UN mandate for international forces in Afghanistan does not extend into Pakistan.
Mr Bush is thought to be in a desperate push for a trophy strike against al-Qaeda's top leadership, which is likely to be based in the tribal area, before he leaves office.
- (Guardian service)