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NATO Probe: Both Sides to Blame in Pakistan Incident |
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Thursday, 22 December 2011A NATO investigation into an air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghan border concluded that both alliance and Pakistani forces made mistakes in the incident.
The November 26 air strike increased tensions between Pakistan and the United States, and Pakistan blocked ground supply routes to international forces in Afghanistan.
Releasing the results of the probe, NATO said alliance and Afghan forces "legitimately responded in self-defense" after initially being fired upon by "unidentified forces."
It said that the combined force "did not knowingly fire upon" the Pakistani soldiers.
It said both sides made "a series of mistakes" in coordinating their locations and actions both before and during the incident.
It said NATO has taken "immediate steps" to avoid similar incidents in the future.
The air strike angered the Pakistanis, who demanded that the United States leave the Shamsi air base in Pakistan within 15 days and blocked ground supply routes through Pakistan to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Pakistan also wants a formal U.S. apology. |
Thursday, 22 December 2011
RFE/RL
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