Sunday, November 27, 2011

Pakistan Escalates, 24 Soldiers Dead

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Pakistan claims NATO helicopters and fighter jets fired upon two army checkpoints in the country's northwest and killing 24 soldiers. Pakistan's leaders responded by closing the border crossings used by the international coalition to supply its troops in neighboring Afghanistan, thus cutting off the American supply route.

The incident damages an already difficult relationship between Pakistan and American-led forces fighting in Afghanistan.

At this point, Pakistan has closed both of the country's border crossings into Afghanistan. 30 percent of the non-lethal supplies used by its Afghan-based forces use those border crossings.

Ties between Washington and Islamabad have been strained. The covert U.S. commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani garrison town on May 2 contributed.

The United Nations says the attack was self-defense.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Pakistan: 24 troops dead in NATO helicopter attack - Yahoo News

Nato air attack on Pakistani troops was self-defence, says senior western official - Guardian U.K.

Pakistan stops NATO supplies after deadly raid - Reuters

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