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Pakistan protests to US over raid | Pakistan protests to US over raid |
(10 minutes later) | |
Pakistan has summoned the US ambassador to protest at an alleged cross-border raid which officials say killed at least 15 villagers in the north-west. | Pakistan has summoned the US ambassador to protest at an alleged cross-border raid which officials say killed at least 15 villagers in the north-west. |
A number of civilians were reported killed in the raid, which Pakistan says was a violation of its sovereignty. | |
Correspondents say the raid appears to have been the first ever ground assault by foreign forces based in Afghanistan. | Correspondents say the raid appears to have been the first ever ground assault by foreign forces based in Afghanistan. |
US-led and Nato forces said they had no reports of any such incursion. Border tensions have risen in recent weeks. | US-led and Nato forces said they had no reports of any such incursion. Border tensions have risen in recent weeks. |
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says US aircraft have carried out air strikes in the region, but a ground assault would be unprecedented. | The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says US aircraft have carried out air strikes in the region, but a ground assault would be unprecedented. |
It is not clear who the target of any attack might have been. | It is not clear who the target of any attack might have been. |
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan would not allow any foreign power to carry out attacks on its territory. | Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan would not allow any foreign power to carry out attacks on its territory. |
He was speaking hours after his motorcade was hit by sniper fire near the capital, Islamabad. Senior government officials say he was not in the car at the time. | He was speaking hours after his motorcade was hit by sniper fire near the capital, Islamabad. Senior government officials say he was not in the car at the time. |
'Act of aggression' | 'Act of aggression' |
Pakistani military and political officials say ground troops brought in by US-led coalition helicopters launched the attack in the South Waziristan tribal area near the Afghan border early on Wednesday morning. | Pakistani military and political officials say ground troops brought in by US-led coalition helicopters launched the attack in the South Waziristan tribal area near the Afghan border early on Wednesday morning. |
Locals say soldiers attacked with gunfire and bombs. Women and children were among those reported killed. | Locals say soldiers attacked with gunfire and bombs. Women and children were among those reported killed. |
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said a "very strong protest" had been delivered to the ambassador, Anne Paterson. | |
"The ambassador said that she would convey it to her government," he said. | |
The army called the attack an act of aggression which undermined the fight against militancy. | |
North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, who is in administrative charge of the tribal areas, called the attack "cowardly". | |
"At least 20 innocent citizens of Pakistan, including women and children, were martyred," he said in a statement. | |
There is mounting US pressure on Pakistan - a key ally in the "war on terror" - to crack down on militants, who use the border region to launch raids into Afghanistan. | There is mounting US pressure on Pakistan - a key ally in the "war on terror" - to crack down on militants, who use the border region to launch raids into Afghanistan. |
The Afghan government and Nato say the border region is a haven for al-Qaeda and the Taleban. Pakistan says it is doing all it can to curb militancy. | The Afghan government and Nato say the border region is a haven for al-Qaeda and the Taleban. Pakistan says it is doing all it can to curb militancy. |
On Monday, Pakistan's military suspended its operations against Taleban militants in the neighbouring Bajaur tribal area. | On Monday, Pakistan's military suspended its operations against Taleban militants in the neighbouring Bajaur tribal area. |
The government said this suspension of fighting was to respect the fasting month of Ramadan. | The government said this suspension of fighting was to respect the fasting month of Ramadan. |
Taleban spokesman Maulvi Omar welcomed the announcement, but he said militants would not lay down their arms. | Taleban spokesman Maulvi Omar welcomed the announcement, but he said militants would not lay down their arms. |