Twenty four Pakistani soldiers died in an American-led raid on their post last November because, a US military investigation has concluded, the two countries don’t trust each other.
Twenty four Pakistani soldiers died in an American-led raid on their post last November because, a US military investigation has concluded, the two countries don’t trust each other.
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The investigation report, which points to critical failures on the US side, is expected to go some distance in placating Pakistani leaders, especially the military. The US is keen to repair the relationship.
Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Martin Dempsey called Pakistani army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on December 21 to inform him the probe was over. And he also offered to send a team to brief him on the findings. Pakistan had not seen the report till Thursday.
But to questions about apologizing for the tragedy, the US is clearly not in favour. State department spokesman Mark Toner refused an apology saying the US regrets the incident and takes its share of responsibility for it. The US investigation report says mistakes were made on both sides. For one, the 120-men ground force targeting an Afghan village had indeed come under fire from the Pakistani border post.
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