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Pakistan deploys anti-aircraft missiles on Afghan border
Pakistan has strengthened its air defense with a view to preventing NATO forces from intruding into its territory from Afghanistan.The strong US ally has installed anti-aircraft missiles in its tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, well-placed sources told Arab News here on Monday. Now no helicopter will be able to escape after entering into Pakistani territory, the official sources said. Meanwhile, NATOs chief expressed regret on Monday for the deaths of Pakistani soldiers last week and said he hoped Pakistans border would reopen for NATO supplies to Afghanistan as soon as possible. Angered by repeated attacks by NATO helicopters on militant targets within its borders, Pakistan blocked one of the supply routes for NATO troops in Afghanistan after a strike killed three Pakistani soldiers in the western Kurram region. Analysts and Western officials said Pakistans closure of the border for a few days would not seriously impact the war effort in Afghanistan, but it would create political tension that Pakistan could exploit. Pakistan has officially said the border has been closed for security reasons and the Taleban threat of more attacks will likely prolong the closure of the vital supply route now in its fifth day and further strain ties with ally Washington, which has long demanded Pakistan crack down on militants. Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-10-07 |
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