SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON ON PAKISTAN NATO AIRSTRIKE

SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON REMARKS ON PAKISTAN NATO AIRSTRIKE SOT sot what happened across the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was a tragic incident I called my Pakistani counterpart Prime Minister Khar on Sunday to express our condolences on behalf of the american people and to pledge a full investigation into the circumstances of the event Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remarks at 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, South Korea On November 26, 2011 coalition aircraft allegedly killed 24 Pakistani troops at two posts along a mountainous frontier that serves as a safe haven for militants. The incident Saturday was a major blow to American efforts to rebuild an already tattered alliance vital to winding down the 10-year-old Afghan war. Islamabad called the bloodshed in one of its tribal areas a "grave infringement" of the country's sovereignty, and it could make it even more difficult for the U.S. to enlist Pakistan's help in pushing Afghan insurgents to engage in peace talks. A NATO spokesman said it was likely that coalition airstrikes caused Pakistani casualties, but an investigation was being conducted to determine the details. If confirmed, it would be the deadliest friendly fire incident by NATO against Pakistani troops since the Afghan war began a decade ago.