NATO Kills 50 in Cross-Border Raid; Pakistan Protests

NATO helicopters in Afghanistan claiming the right of hot pursuit crossed into Pakistani territory on Monday and launched an air strike that killed as many as 50 Taliban-aligned fighters. The action drew sharp criticism from the government of Pakistan but failed to deter a military operation aimed at driving Taliban forces from the Kandahar region. The incident was triggered by an attack by the Pakistan-based fighters on a security outpost inside Afghanistan. News agencies reported that Pakistan denies NATO’s insistence that an agreement exists whereby NATO troops can pursue forces several miles into Pakistani territory.