Pakistan blasts "unprovoked" NATO attacks
Pakistani security personnel stop trucks carrying supplies for NATO forces in neighboring Afghanistan at Takhtabeg check post in Pakistani tribal area of Khyber, Pakistan, on their way to Torkham border post on Saturday, Nov 26, 2011.
/ AP Photo/Muhammad SajjadISLAMABAD - Senior Pakistani government accused Afghanistan-based NATO helicopters of attacking a Pakistani Army post in the Mohmand agency area along the Afghan border late Friday night, killing 26 of its troops. It called the attack "unprovoked and without reason."
"This attack shows utter irresponsibility on the part of ISAF (Afghanistan based International Security Assistance Force) which will not go unanswered," a senior Pakistani government official in Islamabad told CBS News on condition of anonymity.
In response, Pakistan on Saturday halted supplies by trucks for Western troops stationed in Afghanistan.
A Western diplomat in Islamabad who also spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity said, "We don't know the full details yet. But it's possible the attack may have mistakenly targeted Pakistani soldiers on the assumption that they were militants."
Western officials (including U.S. officials) have repeatedly urged Pakistan to tighten control along its border with Afghanistan, amid claims that Pakistan has not done enough to end the sanctuaries on its side of the border which are frequently used by Taliban militants, including those who routinely attack Western and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.
The Mohmand agency where the attack took place is among the semi-autonomous regions along the Afghan border where Pakistan has deployed up to 150,000 troops altogether for anti-Taliban security duties. The Western diplomat who spoke to CBS News on Saturday said, "We have to await the final outcome of investigations to know what happened exactly. But let's be honest: This is an accident-prone situation when you have the Taliban routinely crossing back and forth. There may have been a hot pursuit (of suspected Taliban militants)."
Pakistani officials who spoke to CBS News, however, said that fallout from the attack will make it harder for Pakistan to be seen closely cooperating with U.S.-led Western forces which are seeking to stabilize Afghanistan. Relations between Pakistan and the U.S. already are under strain since May this year when U.S. Navy SEALs tracked and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan's northern city of Abbottabad.
"How can anyone expect a regime in Islamabad to be giving more support to the U.S. when our soldiers are being killed in cold blood?" asked a Pakistani foreign ministry official who spoke to CBS News on Saturday, also on condition of anonymity.
Though the foreign ministry official said a permanent break in relations between Pakistan and the U.S.-led Western alliance appears to be unlikely, "There will still be demands from different segments of Pakistan to seek immediate revenge."
In light of concerns over the unreliable nature of the supply route for Afghanistan via Pakistan, Western governments have sought to build an alternative route through the former Soviet Republics of central Asia. But Pakistani officials say the route through the country - the shortest distance from any port to Afghanistan - will always remain vital especial for fuel supplies.
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Mexico's drug war 20 Photos
- U.K. official: London attack suspects probed before
- Tokyo's rockabilly scene 16 Photos
- Graphic video: Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack Play Video
- Muslim hard-liners ID suspect in London attack
- Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack 253 Comments
- Slain London soldier was 25-year-old drummer, father
- London soldier slaying homegrown Islamic extremism?
one said that Pakistani Troops attacked helicopter, man you have the best in the world and how can Pakistani infantry attack them secondly what they were doing in Pakistani soil.
the people who are giving their lives to protect your world. Minus Pakistan army out of this war and analyze can american army protect you from those terrorists. Study how many lives they gave fighting militants in wazirstan , swat bajour
These were not 24 solider 24 families , 24 villages and 24 cities perhaps. when these bodies goes to their home town will they love Americans ?
Think if your father killed for no reason what will be your feelings. ?
Yes Pakistan is not your friend but remember the time of cold war if Pakistan had given access to Warm waters to Russian the situation might be different.
The common US people should understand 40,000 thousand lives is big number they were human they had families. you had seen one 9-11 we see every day.
these sort of attacks are spreading hate, they are creating a no go world for Americans. It is the hate against american that fuel these organization.
Understand the reality see who is winning the WAR , world or terrorist who is getting more popular.
THAT is what worries me and me thinks sounds like a setup. Could we have mistakenly mistook these guys on purpose to provoke a reaction? - kind of like the one we're seeing??
It is more likely that the Pakistanis opened fire on the choppers.