Pakistan/United States

Pakistan lashes out at US after border shootout

Article published on the 2008-09-26 Latest update 2008-09-26 09:39 TU

President Asif Ali Zardari at UN
(Photo: Reuters)

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari lashed out at the United States in front of the UN General Assembly on Thursday after American troops exchanged gunfire with Pakistani forces on the Afghan border. Pakistan's military says that two US helicopters had violated its  airspace, while the US army says that the helicopters were over Afghan territory providing cover for patrols in pursuit of armed fighters.

The Nato-led force in Afghanistan said Friday that it is trying to establish the facts of the event. A spokesperson said that it is "clearly a misunderstanding".  

Pakistan's military said its troops fired warning shots at the helicopters, which it insisted were "well within Pakistani territory".

"Just as we will not let Pakistan's territory be used by terrorists for attacks against our people and our neighbours, we cannot allow our territory and our sovereignty to be violated by our friends," said President Azari in a speech to the UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile the Pakistani army said Friday that security forces have killed 1,000 Islamist fighters in a month-long offensive in the Bajaur region near the Afghan border. 

They claim that five top commanders, four of them foreigners, were among the dead.

In the country's biggest city, Karachi, three Pakistanis blew themselves up after police raided their hideout on Friday. Police say the dead men were planning an attack ,

The incident happened hours before Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was due in the city but there was no official indication that he was the target.