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Pakistan protests US Lwara Mundi strike

* Coalition spokesman in Afghanistan confirms ‘precision-guided strike’ on ‘Haqqani network compound’
* Bajaur tribesmen protest killings

MIRANSHAH/KHAR: Pakistan lodged a protest with coalition forces in Afghanistan on Thursday after two Pakistani women and two children were killed by US fire from across the border in North Waziristan, the army said, AFP reported.

“They fired five rounds which landed in our territory and in the process a house was destroyed, resulting in the deaths of two women and two children,” military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said, according to Reuters. “We have lodged a very strong protest with the coalition forces across the border.” Local officials said the house in Lwara Mundi town belonged to a local tribesman.

In Kabul, a spokesman for the US-led coalition said it could not comment on the Pakistani account but confirmed the strike.

‘Precision-guided’: “We can confirm a precision-guided ammunition strike on March 12 on a compound connected with Haqqani network 1.5 kilometres across the border in Pakistan,” coalition spokesman Major Chris Belcher told AFP. The Haqqani network refers to militants led by Taliban commander Sirajuddin Haqqani, allegedly based in Miranshah.

“I do not have any information on any casualties that may have occurred,” Belcher said. “The information I have is that the Government of Pakistan was notified immediately following the strike.” “It is not the first time that they have had to respond to an imminent threat across the border in Pakistan. Every time we do, we clear that with Pakistani authorities,” he added.

Protest:Meanwhile, several hundred Bajaur Agency tribesmen protested against the killing of innocent civilians on Thursday after security forces and militants exchanged heavy crossfire on Wednesday, reportedly killing up to eight civilians. JI leaders Sahibzada Haroon Rashid and Amir Sardar Khan strongly condemned the killing of ‘innocent tribesmen’. They alleged security forces were killing innocent tribesmen on President Musharraf’s orders to appease the US.

It was the duty of the political administration and scouts to provide protection to tribesmen, and to stop security forces from shooting innocent civilians, they added. “There will be a popular uprising if security forces do not stop killing innocent people,” said Rasheed, AFP reported. agencies/staff report

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