Pakistan foils US attack in border region

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces and armed tribesmen Monday foiled an attempt by US troops to enter Pakistani territory by firing shots at them, security officials said.
 
Two US military helicopters crossed into Pakistan and tried to land near Angor Adda area of South Waziristan tribal district along the Afghan border before dawn, a local security official said.
 
"But our security forces and the tribesmen who were alert opened fire at them and forced them to flee back to Afghanistan," added the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
 
No one was hurt in the incident, which an army spokesman denied.
 
"We completely deny the incident. There was no violation of our border from the Afghan side and therefore there was no question of any firing from our side," Major Murad Khan insisted.
 
However, he said firing was heard in the area but the army did not know where it had come from and where it was aimed.
 
A local resident, Sher Ali, said the tribesmen in the Angor Adda area had been on alert since Sep 3 when US Special Forces dropped by US helicopters killed more than 20 innocent people.
 
"People had information since Sunday night that the US forces were gathering across the border so thousands of armed tribesmen were guarding their area," he added.
 
"Good for them (Americans) that they turned back. Otherwise, people were ready to give them the sort of welcome they deserve."
 
Tension has been brewing between Islamabad and Washington in recent weeks as US forces have increased missile attacks, mostly carried out by drone Predators, at the suspected hideouts of militants who launch cross-border raids on international forces in Afghanistan.
 
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen told the US Congress last Wednesday that Washington was planning military operations to eliminate militant sanctuaries in Pakistan.
 
In response, Pakistan's military chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has vowed to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country "at all costs".