The US-led coalition troops, based in Afghanistan, tried to cross into a Pakistani tribal area in helicopters, but were repelled after warning shots were fired, local officials said on Monday. The incident happened about 100 metres (yards) from South Waziristan late on Sunday on the Afghan side of the border, but there were no casualties.
"The US-led coalition troops in helicopters came close to the border and they tried to enter Pakistan territory, but shots were fired by Pakistani troops and the coalition troops retreated," a security official said. An unnamed Pakistani army spokesman confirmed an incident took place, but denied its involvement.
"There was firing but our troops were not involved," he told AFP. "Firing was heard, but there was no violation of Pakistan territory," he said. A second security official, based in the area, said that local tribesmen joined in the firing after Pakistani soldiers played bugles to alert local people to the threat of an incursion.
Army's chief military spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas, denied there had been any such incident. "These reports are not correct," he said. Meanwhile, the Pentagon on Monday denied reports that Pakistani troops fired on two US military helicopters after they crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan and forced them to turn back.