US apologises for fatal Nato helicopter attack

The US has apologised for a Nato helicopter strike that killed three Pakistani soldiers last week, in a bid to persuade Islamabad to reopen a blocked supply route to Afghanistan. Taliban fighters have detroyed around 100 Nato vehicles in the past week as they remain stalled in north-west Pakistan.

Reuters

"We extend our deepest apology to Pakistan and the families of the Frontier Scouts who were killed and injured," US ambassador Anne Patterson said in a statement from Islamabad on Wednesday.

Three Pakistani soldiers were killed on 30 September when Nato helicopters opened fire after mistaking them for insurgents.

The ambassador pledged that the US government would coordinate more closely with Pakistani authorities to prevent any more such "tragic accidents".

"Pakistan's brave security forces are our allies in a war that threatens both Pakistan and the US," her statement said.

However, a US government report warned on Wednesday that Pakistani forces were avoiding "direct conflict" with the Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaeda in its north-west tribal district.

Pakistani military have continued operations against insurgents in South Waziristan, the White House report to Congress said, but added that soldiers stay close to roads and operations were progressing "slowly".

The move is "as much a political choice" as a question of military priorities, according to an unclassified version of the document seen by the AFP news agency.

The claims risk raising tensions further between Washington and Islamabad.

The Afghan supply route remains closed for the eighth day since the Nato strike.

There have been multiple attacks on Nato supply trucks as they wait to cross the border. Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility.