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Pak begins probe into crash of suspected US spy plane
(PTI) Pakistan has initiated a "detailed investigation" into the crash of a suspected US spy plane in the restive northern border areas amid claims by tribesmen they had shot the unmanned drone down. The suspected US drone crashed in Pakistan's tribal areas bordering Afghanistan where American military strike have sparked tension and the Pakistan army said it was investigating whether the UAV was shot down or crashed, media report said.Confirming the crash of the US predator drone in Angoor Adda area of South Waziristan, the Pakistan Army spokesman was quoted by The News newspaper as saying it crashed apparently due to malfunctioning. Though the army said the drone crashed, local residents said it might have been shot down. "Yes, the security forces and Wazir tribesmen fired at the plane and shot it down," an unnamed security official was quoted as saying by the Pakistani daily.
It did not say who the drone belong to but security official citing anonymity said it was an American aircraft. The Pentagon, the paper said, had no report of any crash, while the CIA declined to comment. The incident comes just two days after Pakistani official said that their troops had opened fire to drive back two US helicopter gunships that had crossed into Pakistani airspace in neighbouring North Waziristan. The site of the drone crash in South Waziristan was a scene of the first ever officially acknowledged special operations hit by US-led coalition forces which left 15 dead including some key al Qaeda operators. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-25 |
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