This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7597529.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan fury over 'US assault' | Pakistan fury over 'US assault' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Pakistan has condemned an alleged raid by foreign troops based in Afghanistan which officials say killed at least 15 villagers in a north-west tribal area. | Pakistan has condemned an alleged raid by foreign troops based in Afghanistan which officials say killed at least 15 villagers in a north-west tribal area. |
| The South Waziristan raid would be the first ever ground assault into Pakistan by foreign forces from Afghanistan. | The South Waziristan raid would be the first ever ground assault into Pakistan by foreign forces from Afghanistan. |
| Pakistan says the raid was a violation of its sovereignty. On Thursday a US missile killed at least five people in nearby North Waziristan, officials say. | Pakistan says the raid was a violation of its sovereignty. On Thursday a US missile killed at least five people in nearby North Waziristan, officials say. |
| US-led and Nato forces have said they have no reports of any troop incursion. | US-led and Nato forces have said they have no reports of any troop incursion. |
| But off the record, US military sources confirm that US commandoes carried out Wednesday's raid against a suspected al-Qaeda target - and say it could signal a tougher approach to cross-border militancy. | But off the record, US military sources confirm that US commandoes carried out Wednesday's raid against a suspected al-Qaeda target - and say it could signal a tougher approach to cross-border militancy. |
| Thursday's attack occurred in the village of Mohammad Khel near Miranshah in North Waziristan, local officials said. | Thursday's attack occurred in the village of Mohammad Khel near Miranshah in North Waziristan, local officials said. |
| A witness told Reuters news agency that a pilotless US drone had fired at least three missiles at a house where militants were hiding. | A witness told Reuters news agency that a pilotless US drone had fired at least three missiles at a house where militants were hiding. |
| 'No high-value target' | 'No high-value target' |
| Pakistani military and political officials say ground troops brought in by US-led coalition helicopters launched the attack in South Waziristan 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 South Waziristan near the Afghan border early on Wednesday morning. |
| It is not clear who the target might have been. | It is not clear who the target might have been. |
| Locals in the Musa Nikeh area say soldiers attacked with gunfire and bombs. Women and children were among those reported killed. Some officials say as many as 20 people died. | Locals in the Musa Nikeh area say soldiers attacked with gunfire and bombs. Women and children were among those reported killed. Some officials say as many as 20 people died. |
| "There is no high-value target or known terrorist among the dead," Foreign Minister Shah Memood Qureshi told the National Assembly on Thursday. | "There is no high-value target or known terrorist among the dead," Foreign Minister Shah Memood Qureshi told the National Assembly on Thursday. |
| "Only innocent civilians, including women and children, have been targeted." | "Only innocent civilians, including women and children, have been targeted." |
| He said the attack "constitutes a serious escalation in the series of actions" by Nato and US-led forces on Pakistani territory. | He said the attack "constitutes a serious escalation in the series of actions" by Nato and US-led forces on Pakistani territory. |
| Late on Wednesday US Ambassador Anne Paterson was summoned to hear a "very strong protest" at the Foreign Ministry, spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said. | Late on Wednesday US Ambassador Anne Paterson was summoned to hear a "very strong protest" at the Foreign Ministry, spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said. |
| "The ambassador said that she would convey it to her government." | "The ambassador said that she would convey it to her government." |
| The army called the attack an act of aggression which undermined the fight against militancy. | The army called the attack an act of aggression which undermined the fight against militancy. |
| Correspondents say the army fears such attacks could unite tribesman behind the Taliban. | |
| Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan will not allow any foreign power to carry out attacks on its territory, inciting a wider uprising in the border area. | |
| He was speaking hours after his motorcade was hit by sniper fire near the capital, Islamabad, on Wednesday. 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, on Wednesday. Senior government officials say he was not in the car at the time. |
| Tensions | Tensions |
| 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. |
| 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. |