NATO Attack in Pakistan
| Date: | 26 November 2011 |
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| Location: | Salala, Mohmand Agency, FATA, Pakistan Latitude: approx. 34.5N Longitude: approx. 71.0E |
| Result |
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Incident
U.S.-led NATO forces opened fire on two Pakistani border check-posts stationed near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. According to the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Major General Ashfaq Nadeem, the attack was a coordinated NATO strike and used two AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, an AC-130H Spectre gunship and two F-15E Eagle fighter jets, one used as a "display of force." A MC-12W Liberty turbo-propeller aircraft was used in a Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance role. The check-posts were located 200 metres (660 ft) to 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) inside Pakistan from the border with Afghanistan in the Salala area of the Baizai subdivision of the Mohmand tribal region in FATA, Pakistan. The two check-posts were separated themselves by a distance of one kilometre on the Salala mountain top.The attacks caused the deaths of up to twenty-four Pakistani soldiers, which included two officers - Major Mujahid Hussain and Captain Usman Ali. Thirteen other soldiers were injured as a result of the attack Both sides reported they were attacked first. The poorly defined border, as well as a history of Taliban fighters moving around the Afghan border regions, were cited as possible contributing factors to the incident.
Pakistan Claims
The incident sparked outrage and controversy in Pakistan, which termed
the attack an "unprovoked and indiscriminate firing,"an "irresponsible act," and a "stark violation" of its sovereignty. Leaders of the Pakistani military establishment viewed NATO's attacks
on the army check posts as intentional, pre-planned and premeditated.
Slamming NATO's version of events as "lame excuses", Pakistan rejected
claims of any firing having emanated from its side as a prelude to the
encounter, saying that the soldiers who were manning the post were
asleep and resting when NATO launched the assault at night.
Nato Attack Comes On The Heels Of Another Crisis
One of Zardari and his late wife’s trusted bagmen in Washington,
Husain Haqqani, whose links to the US intelligence agencies since the
1970s made him a useful intermediary and whom Zardari appointed as
Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, has been forced to resign. Haqqani,
often referred to as the US ambassador to Pakistan, appears to have
been caught red-handed: he allegedly asked Mansoor Ijaz, a
multi-millionaire close to the US defence establishment, to carry a
message to Admiral Mike Mullen pleading for help against the Pakistani
military and offering in return to disband the Haqqani network and the
ISI and carry out all US instructions.
Reaction Of Political Parties Of Pakistan On NATO Attack
PML-N condemns NATO’s ‘naked aggression :-
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on
Saturday condemned NATO’s “naked aggression against Pakistan”. Nawaz
called the NATO’s airstrike on Pakistani soil a terror attack.
APML wants issue raised with UN
The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) on Saturday strongly condemned the unprovoked, pre-dawn attack by NATO forces on the Pakistani security post which claimed lives of over 20 Pakistani security personnel. APML spokesman Fawad Chaudhry urged the government to raise the issue with the United Nations. In his message, the APML spokesman said these types of acts could not deter the brave Pakistani soldiers and demanded the government thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts.
The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) on Saturday strongly condemned the unprovoked, pre-dawn attack by NATO forces on the Pakistani security post which claimed lives of over 20 Pakistani security personnel. APML spokesman Fawad Chaudhry urged the government to raise the issue with the United Nations. In his message, the APML spokesman said these types of acts could not deter the brave Pakistani soldiers and demanded the government thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts.
Asfandyar Wali Khan: Retaliation must be as strong as possible
Urging the government to react as strongly as possible against the NATO attack on a checkpost in Mohmand Agency, Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan on Saturday said the attack was not only a breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty, but also a violation of the UN mandate for NATO forces in Afghanistan. “We have asked the president and the prime minister that the government should react as strongly as possible so that such incident is repeated in the future. Such attacks are not only against the sovereignty of Pakistan and its borders but also a violation of the UN mandate. The UN’s mandate allows the NATO forces to operate within the territorial limits of Afghanistan, it does not allow it to operate outside Afghanistan,” Asfandyar Wali Khan said.
Urging the government to react as strongly as possible against the NATO attack on a checkpost in Mohmand Agency, Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan on Saturday said the attack was not only a breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty, but also a violation of the UN mandate for NATO forces in Afghanistan. “We have asked the president and the prime minister that the government should react as strongly as possible so that such incident is repeated in the future. Such attacks are not only against the sovereignty of Pakistan and its borders but also a violation of the UN mandate. The UN’s mandate allows the NATO forces to operate within the territorial limits of Afghanistan, it does not allow it to operate outside Afghanistan,” Asfandyar Wali Khan said.
Altaf Hussain: NATO strike on Pakistani checkpost deplorable
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday said NATO strike on Pakistani Salala checkpost was quite deplorable and such incidents were triggering hatred against NATO forces.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday said NATO strike on Pakistani Salala checkpost was quite deplorable and such incidents were triggering hatred against NATO forces.
Tahirul Qadri: NATO strike an attack on Pakistan’s territorial integrity
Condemning the NATO attack, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said it was a direct attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the rulers should immediately raise the issue with United Nations. He said country’s foreign policy needed to be reviewed to forestall the possibility of any such incursions in future. Qadri said NATO had launched this attack on Pakistan in defiance of Pakistan’s contributions to the war on terror and immense sacrifices suffered by the people both in man and material.
Condemning the NATO attack, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said it was a direct attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the rulers should immediately raise the issue with United Nations. He said country’s foreign policy needed to be reviewed to forestall the possibility of any such incursions in future. Qadri said NATO had launched this attack on Pakistan in defiance of Pakistan’s contributions to the war on terror and immense sacrifices suffered by the people both in man and material.
Question Rises After NATO Attack
- Should Pakistan go with ICMBs after NATO strike?
- US Attack on Pakistani Outpost - What Really Happened?
- Should Pakistan’s Army Chief resign after
NATO attacks?
(What do you think about it. Do comments. Thanks for regards)
