Miranshah (Pak), May 17
NATO helicopters from Afghanistan intruded into northwest Pakistan today, wounding two soldiers, officials said, prompting a protest from the military already seething over the secret US operation to kill Osama bin Laden.

The Pakistan army said it had lodged a “strong protest” and sought a flag meeting with NATO commanders over the incursion in Pakistan’s North Waziristan near the Afghan border, which has been repeatedly targeted by US drone aircraft.

A local government official said two NATO helicopters crossed into North Waziristan and remained for about 10 minutes in the area, known to be a hub for Al-Qaida-linked fighters.

A Western military official in Kabul, however, said two NATO helicopters supporting a base in eastern Afghanistan had returned fire after being attacked from Pakistan, but declined to say whether they had crossed into Pakistani airspace. A senior Pakistani security official said NATO has complained of “unprovoked firing.” — Reuters