Pakistan official confirms cross-border raid by int'l troops

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2008

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) — A Pakistan provincial governor Wednesday confirmed coalition troops from across the Afghan border had raided a Pakistani village, calling the incident "a direct assault on sovereignty."

The raid killed at least 20 people, North West Frontier Province governor Owais Ahmed Ghani said in a statement.

"Innocent citizens of Pakistan including women and children were martyred," he said.

A local official in South Waziristan tribal district claimed the helicopters dropped soldiers from the NATO-led force in Afghanistan (ISAF) in the border village of Jalal Khel and flew them back after the attack.

The official, Mowaz Khan, said the pre-dawn raid took place as residents were having their last meal before fasting as part of the...