NATO Helicopters Did Not Fly into Pakistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2010 – NATO’S International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan confirmed through operational reporting and the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan that no ISAF aircraft crossed the border into Pakistan today and that there have been no reports of injuries, military officials reported.

ISAF is aware of a claim by China’s Xinhua News Agency that two NATO helicopters crossed into Pakistan’s air space today.

ISAF officials said they were not contacted for comment prior to the publication of the Xinhua article.

In other new today, three Afghan civilians were killed and one seriously wounded in two separate improvised explosive device blasts in Kandahar province.

In Zharay district, Afghan civilians struck an IED, which resulted in three young Afghans killed, reportedly 10, 15 and 20 years old. An Afghan National Army and International Security Assistance Force patrol responded to the scene of the blast to investigate the incident.

In Kandahar district a private vehicle struck an IED which resulted in one Afghan civilian seriously injured. The wounded was evacuated to an ISAF medical treatment facility in Kandahar.

“This is a terrible tragedy and demonstrates the indiscriminate killing of civilians from IEDs planted by insurgents. ISAF condemns these acts of terror,” said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, ISAF Joint Command’s Combined Joint Operations Center director. “Our thoughts and concerns are with the victim’s families. We’ll work with our Afghan partners to find those responsible for these attacks and bring them to justice.”

In yesterday’s operations:

-- Afghan and coalition forces captured a Taliban facilitator during a security operation in Paktika province. The facilitator operated mainly in Yosef Khel district conducting surveillance of Afghan and coalition patrols for Taliban cells in the area. Based on tips, the security force targeted a compound northeast of Yahya Khel. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully before the joint security force cleared and secured the compound. After initial questioning at the scene, the security force detained the suspected insurgent.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained more than 10 suspected insurgents. A joint security force in Paktiya province detained several suspected insurgents while targeting a Haqqani Network facilitator operating in the Khost-Gardez pass. Tips led the security force to a compound southwest of Hokumati Waze in Zadran district to search for the facilitator, who moves materials and operational information in and out of the Khost-Gardez pass. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully before the joint security force cleared and secured the compound. After initial questioning at the scene, the security force detained the suspected insurgents. The assault force also discovered several automatic weapons and a large quantity of sniper and automatic weapon ammunition at the scene.

-- A combined security force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Haqqani leader in Sabari district, Khost province. The targeted individual conducts remote-controlled IED attacks against coalition force bases and convoys. The suspected insurgents were detained after initial questioning at the scene. An Afghan-led security force detained numerous suspected insurgents in Kunduz province during a deliberate clearing operation aimed at disrupting the Taliban’s freedom of movement in Kunduz district. The Afghan security force, mentored by coalition forces, conducted the clearing operation to degrade the insurgent command networks, deny insurgent safe havens and minimize the foreign fighter capability in the district.