Claim: Afghan coalition forces kill 20 in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Coalition forces crossed the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan early Wednesday and carried out a raid which killed at least 20 civilians, according to a local leader.


Security in the South Waziristan area of Pakistan has deteriorated in recent years.

Owais Ahmed Ghani, the governor of North West Frontier Province, said the "cowardly attack" in a village in South Waziristan was a "direct assault on the sovereignty of Pakistan" and would result in a "befitting reply."

Officials with the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan said they were not aware of such an incident.

South Waziristan is a tribal border area where security has deteriorated in recent years. The Afghan government and U.S. forces consider the semi-autonomous Pakistani tribal areas a haven for Taliban and al Qaeda-linked fighters who have carried out attacks inside both countries.

Ghani, who is administrative head of FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) said three "Afghanistan-based coalition" helicopters and commandos attacked the village in the Birmal area of South Waziristan early Wednesday morning. The casualties included women and children, he said.

"This is a direct assault on the sovereignty of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan expect that the Armed Forces of Pakistan would rise to defend the sovereignty of the country and give a befitting reply to all such attacks," Ghani said in a statement.

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Pakistani Army spokesman Maj. Murad Khan confirmed that an attack had taken place and that it involved troops who crossed the border into Pakistan. He said the army was looking into whether the raid involved coalition troops.

Local media reports said the attack used both helicopters and ground troops, who came out of a chopper and opened fire on civilians.

If the accounts are true, it signals a shift in the approach of coalition troops as they combat militants.

Several times this year, pilotless U.S.-operated drone aircrafts have launched attacks inside Pakistan, killing dozens of militants. But ground troops have not crossed the border to go after insurgents.

Pakistan's new government is in the midst of a major offensive against militants. Security forces had suspended the operation for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began this month.

While Pakistanis have mixed feelings about the government offensive -- some preferring negotiations instead -- they are deeply resentful of foreign troops flushing out militants.

In June, a U.S. air strike near the border killed 11 Pakistani soldiers. The incident is under a joint investigation