The US defence department on Thursday insisted that its air strike that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers along the Afghanistan border was a "legitimate" act after an angry Islamabad summoned the American ambassador to protest against the "unprovoked and cowardly" attack.
"I will say this: Although it is early, every indication we have at this point is that this was, indeed, a legitimate strike in defence of our forces after they came under attack," Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters in Washington.
The US State Department had on Wednesday termed it as a "regrettable" incident and "a reminder that better cross-border communications between forces is vital."
"Every indication we have at this point is that the actions that were taken by US forces were in -- were legitimate, in that they were in self-defence, after US forces, operating on the border of Pakistan in Afghanistan territory, came under attack from hostile forces, and, in self-defence, they called in an air strike, which took out those forces that were attacking them," Morrell insisted.
He said the US forces will work in close coordination with the Pakistanis to find out what exactly happened and expressed the hope that the incident would not affect anti-terror cooperation between the US and Pakistan.
"We hope not. It's a vitally important relationship in an extremely dangerous part of the world. We have shared goals, and that is to take on terrorists who may be plotting, training in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas," the official said.
"And so it is incumbent upon both of us not to let an incident like this or any other interfere with that fundamental shared goal of making sure the FATA is not a refuge for terrorists who may be plotting attacks against the Pakistani government, the United States government, or any of our allies," Morrell said.
The senior official maintained that the operations along the border are done in close coordination between US forces, coalition forces and the Pakistani military.
"We are aware of some of the concerns that have been expressed by the Pakistani Army and other elements of the Pakistan government. And I can tell you that we are working with the Pakistani government to try to get to the bottom of this incident so that they have a better understanding of it, so that we have a better understanding of it," Morrell added.
As there is a new government in charge in Pakistan, the US government, including Pentagon, is "exercising a great deal of patience as we allow them the time and the space necessary to get on their feet," the official said and pressed that any negotiated settlement with the militants should be "enforceable" and not allow FATA "to become a safe haven for Al Qaeda."
"We are hopeful that the efforts that have been undertaken thus far by this new Pakistani government will be fruitful. They've made attempts or are in the midst of attempts to work out some sort of negotiated arrangement with militants in the FATA. It is our insistence, our belief, our urging, that any kind of arrangement they come to be enforceable and that the FATA not be allowed to become a safe haven for Al Qaeda," he said.
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