Islamabad protests NATO air pursuit across its border to hit insurgents

Pakistan is disputing NATO's claim that its forces have the right of hot pursuit across the Afghan border. The dispute comes after coalition helicopters pursued and killed more than 50 militants who had escaped into Pakistan following an attack on an Afghan security post. NATO justified the strikes based on "self-defense," a spokesman said. U.S. officials have said they have the right to cross a few miles (kilometers) into Pakistani airspace if they are attacked and in hot pursuit of a target. Pakistan denied Monday such an understanding exists. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release the mandate of foreign troops in Afghanistan ends at the Afghan border. Pakistan said that unless corrective measures are implemented, it will have to "consider response options."