NATO Forces in Afghanistan Target Militants in Pakistan

NATO-led forces in Afghanistan have attacked targets in Pakistan, after coming under fire from militants across the border.

In a statement released Wednesday, the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, said its troops received multiple rocket attacks from militants inside Pakistan. ISAF said its forces identified the point of origin for the attacks and responded in self defense with helicopter and artillery fire.

ISAF said its soldiers coordinated the attack with the Pakistani military, which agreed to help out if the militant attack continued.

Meanwhile, in an interview Wednesday with VOA, Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas commented on reports foreign troops were massing near the Pakistani border with Afghanistan.

He reiterated foreign troops would not be allowed to conduct operations on Pakistani territory, but said he welcomed the movement if coalition forces were setting up security posts on the Afghan side of the border.

The U.S. and Afghanistan say Pakistan's tribal regions are a haven for militants who stage cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

A NATO spokesman in Afghanistan said Tuesday reports of hundreds of troops moving toward the Pakistani border are inaccurate, but local villagers say they have seen the troop build-up.

Also Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned Afghanistan's president for accusing Pakistan of being involved in a recent string of attacks.



Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.