NATO denies firing mortars into Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The US embassy in Pakistan has denied allegations that NATO soldiers had fired across the border from Afghanistan into North Waziristan, damaging a number of homes and killing at least three civilians.

The embassy said that the claims were “completely false”.

“According to Nato International Security Assistance Force officials, coalition forces in Afghanistan fired no mortars into Pakistan, nor were they engaged in combat operations in the vicinity of the border area near Saidgi,” The Dawn quoted the statement, as saying.

Earlier, officials of North Waziristan claimed shells fired by coalition forces battling Taliban fighters in the Afghan province of Khost had smashed into houses in Saidgi village.

Washington considers the remote area on the Afghan border the global headquarters of Al-Qaeda and the most dangerous place on Earth.

US forces have been waging a drone war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked commanders in the north-western tribal belt, where the leaders of a nearly nine-year insurgency in Afghanistan are believed to be based. (ANI)