Rebels blamed for Afghan attack

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Nato says militants were responsible for a mortar attack on the Afghan-Pakistani border three days ago which injured a number of troops.

The clash occurred near the Pakistani village of Angor Adda in the South Waziristan tribal region.

Nato said it had destroyed the "origins of insurgent fire" inside Afghanistan. But Pakistan protested to Nato.

Six Pakistani soldiers and two civilians were injured alongside four Afghan policemen, Nato says.

"Because it was very close to the border, we verified that the origins of the fire was within Afghanistan," Nato spokesman Mark Laity said.

"And once we got that, we fired on the two points of origin, and aircraft also were called in and put one bomb on target.

"Our assessment is that this was an attempt to create a border incident."

A Pakistani military spokesman indicated Pakistan still had its suspicions.

"It was a precision engagement which destroyed the post," Maj Gen Athar Abbas said. "It doesn't make sense that anybody else was fighting."