Army protests Nato incursion

Nato helicopters from Afghanistan intruded into Pakistan in North Waziristan on Tuesday, wounding two soldiers, officials said, prompting a protest from the military already seething over the secret US operation to kill Osama bin Laden.
The Army said it had lodged a "strong protest" and sought a flag meeting with Nato commanders over the incursion in North Waziristan near the Afghan border which has been repeatedly targeted by US drone aircraft as a hub of al Qaeda linked militants.
A Western military official in Kabul, however, said two Nato helicopters supporting a base in eastern Afghanistan had returned fire after being attacked from Pakistan, but declined to say whether they had crossed into Pakistani airspace. A senior security official said Nato has lodged its own complaint with Pakistan, accusing its forces of "unprovoked firing."
Western military officials in Kabul had no immediate comment about the possible complaint. The incident is certain to weigh on relations between the US and Pakistan have been pushed almost to the breaking point after the May 2 raid on Abbottabad that killed bin Laden, with parliament condemning the operation as a violation of the nation's sovereignty.
A Western military official, who asked to remain anonymous, said Nato helicopters had fired at targets inside Pakistan, but only after they were attacked from across the border. A local government official said two Nato helicopters crossed into North Waziristan and remained for about 10 minutes in the area.
The helicopters retreated after border forces opened fire in the Datta Khel area about 40 km (24 miles) west of the main town of Miranshah, a security official said. "A shell struck a mountain nearby and two of our soldiers were wounded by the rubble," the official said.
The Western military official said the helicopters came under fire first. "Our initial reports indicate that two ISAF helicopters were in the area in support of FOB (forward operating base) Tillman, as the FOB had been receiving intermittent direct and indirect fire from across the Pakistani border," he said.
"Upon arrival the helicopter received fire from across the border but did not immediately return fire. Upon receiving fire from across the border a second time, the helicopter returned fire," he added. The official said the Nato-led coalition had received reports two Pakistani troops had been wounded. He declined further comment, including on whether the helicopters had entered Pakistan airspace.
Our reporter from Islamabad adds: A Nato jet and helicopters entered Pakistani airspace Tuesday, which led to an exchange of gunfire between coalition and Pakistani forces. Later, Pakistan Army has lodged a strong protest and demanded a flag meeting. According to ISPR, two Nato helicopters violated Pakistan air space at Admi Kot Post, North Waziristan Agency in the early hours of the morning. It further explained that the troops at the post fired upon the helicopters, as a result of exchange of fire, two of our soldiers received injuries.