At least 30 people were killed in air strikes by US-led forces in Pakistan's tribal area bordering Afganistan Saturday, prompting Islamabad to lodge a protest. Military spokesman Major General Arshad Waheed said some shells landed in Pakistani territory in North Waziristan, killing nine members of a family, but insisted that coalition forces did not violate Pakistani territory and it was not missile strike, PTI reported. He said that Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with coalition forces in Afghanistan and sought an explanation. Waheed said that the issue was raised with the trilateral commission, which groups Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States. In the preliminary explanation, the coalition forces clarified that the attack was not intentional. Arshad said that there had been overnight clashes between coalition forces and Taliban in Afghanistan's Paktika province and some rockets fell in Manra village in the border area of Shawal. He said that the rockets hit a house, killing the nine inmates. Earlier local tribesmen said that the coalition planes dropped bombs in Shawal area, which hit a hotel, killing nine people. They said some 80 persons were also injured in the strike. Three women are among those killed in the attack which destroyed four vehicles. It also killed many head of cattle. Coalition planes also dropped bombs in the border areas of South Waziristan tribal region, killing 20 people and injuring some 40. The bombs hit and destroyed more that 15 houses in two different locations in Pakistani border areas, according to Geo television. Meanwhile, three paramilitary soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb blast in North Waziristan tribal region Saturday. The soldiers were waiting for a military convoy to provide them protection. The bomb was set off through a remote control, officials said.
