Pakistan to increase outposts near Afghan border

Pakistan Army has decided to set more military check posts near its border with Afghanistan to enhance coordination with NATO forces in Afghanistan, military sources said on Thursday.The decision has been taken after the November 26th NATO strikes on two Pakistani posts which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others.The military sources who asked to remain anonymous told local media that the number of outposts would be increased up to five from the current four to avert cross border attacks.The sources said that the army has decided not to be part of NATO probe into its attacks in Mohmand tribal region as such inquires didn't help improve situation in the past. He said that 72 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in NATO attacks in three years.They said that Pakistan army has called back its Border Coordination Officers after the strike for consultation.The military sources said that the impression is wrong that all of the forces along Afghan borders were pulled back as a protest to the NATO strike."Some of the forces are still remaining in the posts and others should be back at their posts within the next few days," he added.American media had quoted military officials as expressing concerns over the potential impact of the withdrawal as NATO can make more mistakes.Relations between Pakistan and the U.S. plunges into new low after the NATO raid that led to Islamabad's boycott of Bonn conference on Afghanistan's future.The NATO strike had evoked strong condemnation in Pakistan and the government had ordered the U.S. to vacate Shamsi airbase in Balochistan, closed NATO supply line and boycotted the December 5th Bonn Conference on Afghanistan.