Deadly Pakistan raid caused by mistaked by U.S., Afghan special forces

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Wall Street Journal says Pentagon investigators have determined that mistakes by a joint U.S.-Afghan special operations team led to the airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers last month.

Comment

Pentagon officials say troop commanders believed there were no Pakistani troops in the area. (Photo: Associated Press)

The newspaper says the Defense Department investigation found that coalition troops conducting operations along the Afghan border with Pakistan incorrectly believed there were no Pakistani forces in the area.

After the U.S. and Afghan commandos were attacked by militants, they called in airstrikes against two encampments they thought were used by militants. They were actually were Pakistan border posts.

The Journal, citing anonymous U.S. officials familiar with the report, says an opportunity to stop the fighting was missed when a U.S. serviceman gave incorrect data to the Pakistanis, so they did not know their posts were under attack.

Short URL: http://wj.la/uWqSyA

No comments

Post a Comment

By posting comments to content found on WJLA, you agree to the terms of service.