Six US helicopters violated Pakistan’s air space by intruding into Lawara Mandi area of the North Waziristan Agency on Tuesday morning, officials and residents said.

Eyewitnesses said that the US helicopter gunships had intruded into Lawara Mandi area, about 55 kilometres west of Miramshah after militants attacked allied forces in Pipali area of Afghanistan, close to Pakistani border.

They said that the helicopters violated Pakistan’s air space more than six times in the area, but did not take action. Pakistani security forces did not react against helicopters.

The sources said that constant air space violations by US helicopters triggered tension and senior military officers flew in helicopters from Miramshah to assess the situation.

PHOTO CAPTION

A Pakistan army soldier stands alert, as he monitors the Afghan-Pakistan border at Kundigar post, some 80 kilmeters, 50 miles southwest of Miran Shah, capital of Pakistani tribal belt of North Waziristan, along the Afghanistan border, Sept. 15, 2005. (AP)

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