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Pak, US meet next week to discuss border incursions
Islamabad, May 23: US and Pakistani military officials will meet next week to discuss two recent incursions by Afghanistan-based American troops across the border into a Pakistani tribal region, an army spokesman said today.
Islamabad, May 23: US and Pakistani military officials will meet next week to discuss two recent incursions by Afghanistan-based American troops across the border into a Pakistani tribal region, an army spokesman said today.
Maj Gen. Shaukat Sultan said Pakistan's army felt it necessary to convene the Tuesday meeting after the incursions into the North Waziristan region on May 5 and May 20. Pakistan is a key US ally in its hunt for al-Qaeda fugitives but will not allow American troops to operate on its soil.
Both incursions occurred in Lowara Mandi, a village about 315 kilometres southwest of the capital, Islamabad. On May 20, American soldiers searched homes there for about three hours, but returned to Afghanistan when Pakistani officials rushed to the scene and told them to leave.
US officials in Washington apologised for both incursions.
But residents in Lowara Mandi told the news agencies that dozens of US soldiers went there again on yesterday, leaving only after Pakistani forces deployed there asked them to.
Sultan said that he would not describe that incident as "an incursion" but said Pakistan would raise it at the meeting to be held in North Waziristan. Though Pakistan has allowed US-led forces to use its air bases and other facilities for operations in Afghanistan, it has never permitted them to cross over to Pakistan to hunt Taliban and al-Qaeda fugitives.
Bureau Report
Both incursions occurred in Lowara Mandi, a village about 315 kilometres southwest of the capital, Islamabad. On May 20, American soldiers searched homes there for about three hours, but returned to Afghanistan when Pakistani officials rushed to the scene and told them to leave.
US officials in Washington apologised for both incursions.
But residents in Lowara Mandi told the news agencies that dozens of US soldiers went there again on yesterday, leaving only after Pakistani forces deployed there asked them to.
Sultan said that he would not describe that incident as "an incursion" but said Pakistan would raise it at the meeting to be held in North Waziristan. Though Pakistan has allowed US-led forces to use its air bases and other facilities for operations in Afghanistan, it has never permitted them to cross over to Pakistan to hunt Taliban and al-Qaeda fugitives.
Bureau Report