NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Sunday he had conveyed regret to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for the “tragic, unintended” deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in an airstrike.
“I have written to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to make it clear that the deaths of Pakistani personnel are as unacceptable and deplorable as the deaths of Afghan and international personnel,” he said in a statement.
“This was a tragic unintended incident.”
“I offer my deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the Pakistani officers and soldiers who lost their lives or were injured, and to the government and people of Pakistan, following the regrettable incident along the Afghan-Pakistani border,” Rasmussen added.
Pakistan says two border posts were fired upon “unprovoked” in the early hours of Saturday in Pakistan’s tribal Mohmand district.
An investigation of the incident is likely to ask whether Afghan and American troops on the Afghan side of the border were fired upon first — whether by insurgents or Pakistani military.
Pakistan on Sunday conveyed its “rage” to the United States over cross-border NATO air strikes and ordered a full-scale review of its frosty alliance with Washington and the military bloc.
Pakistan represents a vital life-line to supply 130,000 foreign troops fighting in landlocked Afghanistan, and Rasmussen joined US efforts in a scramble to salvage the alliance.
“I fully support the ISAF investigation which is currently underway,” he said of the International Security Assistance Force fighting the war and which includes non-NATO allies.
“We will determine what happened, and draw the right lessons,” Rasmussen added.
“NATO remains strongly committed to work with Pakistan to improve cooperation to avoid such tragedies in the future.”
Earlier Sunday, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar telephoned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and conveyed a “deep sense of rage” as the military organised a joint funeral for the 24 troops who died.
shut up and get the hell out of our country!
An investigation of the incident is likely to ask whether Afghan and American troops on the Afghan side of the border were fired upon first — whether by insurgents or Pakistani military.
AH … hinting how they are going to investigate and will put the blame on Pakistan
shut ur bloody ediot NATO chief after these kinds of coward attacks USA cant create place in the mindz of real and true Pakistanies.
Unintentional !? SO WAS 9/11
Dear Mr Rasmussen
Thank you for your very considerate comments but the reality is that the survivors of those killed will require adequate compensation.
It should be more like a compensation for life, which would otherwise been spent happily, package.
Regards
PS
I am also pasting my comments which I made earlier
There has to be an independent inquiry as Turkey suggested. There is no doubt that NATO did this which led to the death of 24 Pakistani troops.
I can understand Pakistan is very angry and rightly so. Pakistan government has suspended NATO supplies and asked an airbase to be vacated in 15 days. This is a good initial response but one can foresee a resolution of this in coming few days.
Can Pakistan government ask NATO for ongoing compensation for the loss 24 families will endure.
Each case will need to be assessed individually for the damage it has done or will be doing in the days and years to come.
First and foremost, there is a loss of life time earning of individual officer and soldier. The quantum of damage so assessed should be able to provide adequate funds so that these families have a decent monthly income in the form of a salary coming each month.
The beneficiaries, namely spouse or parents (or both given the social system in Pakistan), must have a regular salary paid just as would have been done if the person was alive. Dependent children will need to be taken special care of and their needs namely education, housing and future welfare will need to be prioritised.
Since these were causalities within Pakistan Army it will have to take a lead in asking for life time compensations.
Oh stop this nonsense about "compensation" and apologies! Enough is enough! We must cut all ties with the US and NATO. How much blood do we have to give to make them happy?? THEY dont care about brown Pakistani blood… only ooooo when one of their white soldiers dies then they mourn. GET OUT OF THIS PAKISTAN.
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