Nato aircraft violate Pakistani airspace

Published July 17, 2013
Intelligence sources told Dawn.com that the aircrafts penetrated into the Pakistani airspace through Pak-Afghan Torkham border. – File Photo
Intelligence sources told Dawn.com that the aircrafts penetrated into the Pakistani airspace through Pak-Afghan Torkham border. – File Photo

PESHAWAR: Two aircraft of Nato forces in Afghanistan on Wednesday evening violated airspace of neighbouring Pakistan by infiltrating into its boundaries by several kilometers.

Intelligence sources told Dawn.com that the aircraft penetrated into the Pakistani airspace through Pak-Afghan Torkham border.

The aircraft returned back to Afghanistan after flying for several minutes within Pakistani boundaries without causing damage or getting involved in any other violation of rules.

This is however not the first occasion when Nato aircraft violated Pakistani airspace. Similar incidents have been witnessed in North Waziristan, Kurram, Mohmand and Khyber tribal agencies in the past.

On November 26, Nato helicopters attacked Salala military checkpoint in Mohmand Agency at Pak-Afghan border, killing up to 28 Pakistani troops.

The incident led to rough bilateral ties between US and Pakistan and prompted the latter to shut the vital supply route for Nato troops fighting in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the state-run news agency, APP reported later on Wednesday that the news item aired by a few private news channels has been contradicted.

According to military sources no such incident had occured, thus there was no question of violation of Pakistani airspace by the coalition forces aircraft operating in bordering Afghanistan, it said.

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