The NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers went on for almost two hours and continued even after Pakistani commanders had pleaded with coalition forces to stop, the army claimed Monday in charges that could further inflame anger in Pakistan. NATO has described the incident as “tragic and unintended” and has promised a full investigation. Unnamed Afghan officials have said that a joint Afghan-NATO force on the Afghan side of the border received incoming fire from the direction of the Pakistani posts, and called in airstrikes. Ties between Pakistan and the United States were already deteriorating before the deadly attack and have sunk to new lows. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said the Pakistani troops at two border posts were the victims of an unprovoked aggression. He said the attack lasted almost two hours and that commanders had contacted NATO counterparts while it was going on, asking “they get this fire to cease, but somehow it continued.” The Pakistan army previously said its soldiers retaliated “with all weapons available” to the attack. Saturday's strikes have added to popular anger in Pakistan against the U.S.-led coalition presence in Afghanistan.
