Pakistani officials: NATO apologized as it fired
WASHINGTON—Pakistani officials say U.S. forces knew they were opening fire on Pakistani forces, and even apologized to Pakistani officers, throughout the friendly fire incident that killed 24 Pakistani troops near the Afghan border in November.
Pakistani officials briefed reporters in Washington on their findings, drawn from interviews with survivors and local residents in the remote, mountainous area.
Results of NATO's official investigation are due next week. U.S. officials believe confusion and miscommunication between a joint US-Afghan patrol and the Pakistani border posts led to the tragedy.
Pakistani military officials have re-established contact, but have kept closed two border crossings used by NATO into Afghanistan, in protest over the deadliest incident yet of fratricide by NATO forces against Pakistan.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive strategic matters.
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