Peshawar, Pakistan — Saturday, Pakistan is accusing NATO helicopters of opening fire on two army checkpoints in the northwest of the country, killing 26. Pakistan quickly retaliated by closing the border used by the coalition to supply troops in neighbouring Afghanistan.
The Friday night incident was another blow to a relationship which was already very much strained, between Islambad and American-led forces feuding in Afghanistan. The Pakistani perception that the U.S. presence in the region is malevolent will no doubt be heightened, as well as the resentment toward the frail Islambad government for its cooperation with Washington in the first place.
BBC reports NATO has stated it is "highly likely" they caused the Pakistan troop deaths. Brigadier-General Carsten Jacobson said that NATO is currently investigating how the incident occurred and sent his condolences.
Pakistini officials respond with fury to the incident, which has killed at least 26 soldiers.
The early-morning attack took place at the Salala checkpoint, located about one and a half miles (or 2 and a half KM) from the Afghanistan border, at around 02:00 local time.
Gen Jacobson said that a combined force of NATO and Afghan soldiers were in the area when "a tactical situation developed on the ground" - although no more details were given.
He also said close air support was issued in, and "we're aware it's highly likely this caused casualties".
Jacobson stated it was a high priority for NATO to "find out what happened".
The relationship between the United States and Pakistan, its ally in the war on militancy, have been severely strained following the U.S. special forces-led killing of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in a May raid on the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, which Pakistan labeled as a flagrant violation of sovereignty.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called for an emergency meeting of military services chiefs with the intention of formulating his nation's response, said his spokesman. A meeting is to be held by the Defense Committee later Saturday.
In a statement, Gilani said he "strongly condemned the NATO/ISAF attack on the Pakistani" checkpoint. (ISAF is in reference to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, largely made up of American troops.
Throughout the tumultuous period, it will be interesting to see if NATO is able to somehow restore the highly tense relations with Pakistan. Although at this point it's still uncertain what provoked the attacks, I'm sure more news will circulate in the coming hours.
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