WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Central Command will conduct its own investigation into NATO's involvement in airstrikes along the Afghan border that killed 24 Pakistani troops.
Gen. James Mattis, who heads the command, is expected to appoint an investigating officer by Monday, according to a defense official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
NATO has a separate investigation under way. Key questions the United States wants answered are who approved the Saturday airstrikes and why.
Afghan officials say their soldiers called for help after being fired upon from the direction of Pakistani border posts.
Pakistani authorities claim the airstrikes were unprovoked, although NATO officials said its troops were responding to being fired upon.
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