Pentagon denies Pak firing turned back US choppers over Angoor Adda

Washington, Sept 16 : The Pentagon has refuted yesterday's media reports that US-led coalition helicopters based in Afghanistan were fired at in Pakistan and forced to turn back.

"The incident did not happen," The News quoted Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman as saying.

Media report had yesterday suggested that the incident occurred at the Angoor Adda tribal area.

Whitman added that after studying the facts a statement by a Pakistani security official "didn't appear to be accurate."

Earlier, there were conflicting reports that shots were fired when US-led coalition helicopters based in Afghanistan neared the border with Pakistan.

The gunfire was said to have broken out late Sunday about 100 metres from the South Waziristan tribal area, where Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters are believed to be sheltering. There were no casualties.

US strikes on Pakistan soil have increased in the recent months on the pretext of targeting the Taliban and Al Qaeda militants hiding in Pakistan's tribal areas. Such strikes have, however, attracted criticism from a wide spectrum of Pakistani society, including the Army, the Government, diplomats, Opposition political leaders and intelligentsia.

ANI