MIR ALI, Pakistan — NATO helicopters in eastern Afghanistan launched rare airstrikes into Pakistan, killing more than 50 militants and prompting a protest from Islamabad.
The airstrikes into Pakistan came after the insurgents attacked a small Afghan security outpost near the border. NATO justified the strikes based on “the right of self-defense,” a spokesman said. Pakistan is sensitive about attacks on its territory, but U.S. officials have said they have an agreement that allows aircraft to cross a few miles into Pakistani airspace if they are in hot pursuit of a target.
Pakistan denied Monday such an agreement exists. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a news release the mandate of foreign troops in Afghanistan ends at the Afghan border and said the strikes were a violation of its sovereignty. Pakistan said that unless corrective measures are implemented, it will have to “consider response options.”
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