NATO jets, drone violate Pakistan’s airspace again

QUETTA - Pakistan’s airspace was yet again violated by NATO as its fighter jets and a drone were seen hovering over Chaman and its suburbs, according to sources.

Two NATO fighter jets and an unmanned plane were seen flying over the Afghan-bordering area of Chaman and its adjacent areas for about an hour, flouting Pakistan’s territorial limits, The Nation reports.

Following the air space breach, security across the bordering areas was augmented and the authorities concerned were informed about the violation.

The NATO violation triggered panic among the residents of these areas, who thought that these planes would launch air strikes there.

It is noteworthy that last year, three Pakistani army men were killed in an early morning raid in an air strike by NATO helicopters at a military post, 200 metres inside the Pakistani border in Kurram Agency.

Reacting to the incident, Pakistan had suspended supply convoys along the Khyber Pass route, which links Peshawar in Pakistan with Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, and lodged a protest with the NATO command in Brussels, demanding an apology.

After the standoff turned into an enormous international incident, the US had apologised for the helicopter attack after a NATO investigation found that the “tragic event could have been avoided with better coalition force co-ordination with the Pakistan military.” The Pakistan government had subsequently reopened the blocked Khyber Pass route after declaring a diplomatic and political victory following the US and NATO apologies. (ANI)