USA/ PAKISTAN: U.S. insists air strike in Afghanistan was "legitimate" and in self defence

Record ID: 352278

  • Title: USA/ PAKISTAN: U.S. insists air strike in Afghanistan was "legitimate" and in self defence
  • Date: 12th June 2008
  • Summary: (W5) ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 10, 2008) (POOL) U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON GEOFF MORRELL ENTERING BRIEFING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON GEOFF MORRELL SAYING: "Every indication we have at this point are the actions taken by U.S. forces were legitimate since they were in self defense after U.S. forces operating o
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA5EO5HYQM08EZ3VG7HJOSIJNB0
  • Story Text: The Pentagon defends an air strike by U.S. forces in Afghanistan as
    "legitimate" and in self defense after Pakistan lodged a strong protest over an "unprovoked and cowardly" air strike by U.S. forces in Afghanistan that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers at a border post.
    A pentagon official on Wednesday (June 11) responded to Pakistan charges calling an air strike by U.S. forces in Afghanistan "unprovoked and cowardly."

    "The actions taken by U.S. forces were legitimate since they were in self defense after U.S. forces operating on the border of Pakistan in Afghanistan territory came under attack from hostile forces and in self defense, they called in an airstrike which took out those forces that were attacking them," Pentagon spokesperson Geoff Morrell told a news conference.
    Pakistan lodged a strong protest with the United States on Wednesday over what it called an unprovoked and cowardly air strike by U.S. forces in Afghanistan that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers at a border post.
    They died in the Mohmand region, opposite Afghanistan's Kunar province, late on Tuesday as U.S. coalition forces in Afghanistan battled militants attacking from Pakistan, a Pakistani security official said.

    "This is a complex attack involving an airstrike, artillery and a number of forces in an area of the world, along the border, that has traditionally been a problem and is often the cause fo some confusion as to who the forces are that are involved," added Morrell.
    In its strongest criticism of the U.S. military since joining the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism, the Pakistani military said the killing of the 11 paramilitary soldiers, including an officer, was "unprovoked and cowardly".
    Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani condemned the attack in Parliament.

    "We will take a stand for sovereignty, integrity and self-respect and we will not allow our soil (to be attacked)," he told parliament.
    The soldiers were killed at a border post late on Tuesday (June 10) as U.S. coalition forces in Afghanistan battled militants attacking from Pakistan, a Pakistani security official said. The U.S. embassy in Islamabad had no comment.
    The incident came as frustration is rising in Kabul and among Western forces in Afghanistan over Pakistani efforts to negotiate pacts to end militant violence on its side of the border. NATO says such deals lead to more violence in Afghanistan.
    Many al Qaeda and Taliban militants took refuge on the Pakistani side of the border after U.S.-led forces ousted the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001.
    A new Pakistani government has been negotiating with elders of ethnic Pashtun tribes to get them to press the militants to give up a campaign of violence in Pakistan in which hundreds of people have been killed over the past year.
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