U.S. acknowledges 'mistakes' in attack that killed 24 Pakistani troops

The U.S. made "mistakes" that led to an unintentional attack on Pakistani military forces in late November, killing two dozen Pakistani troops, the Department of Defense said on Thursday.

Poor coordination between the U.S. and Pakistani militaries and "other gaps in information" contributed to NATO's errant attack on a Pakistani military outpost.

"For the loss of life -- and for the lack of proper coordination between U.S. and Pakistani forces that contributed to those losses -- we express our deepest regret," the statement read. "We further express sincere condolences to the Pakistani people, to the Pakistani government, and most importantly to the families of the Pakistani soldiers who were killed or wounded."

The U.S. also acknowledged the mutual mistrust between both countries, saying "we cannot operate effectively on the border -- or in other parts of our relationship -- without addressing the fundamental trust still lacking between us."

Pakistan's Army, which runs the country and consumes a large amount of U.S. aid to the country, contributes to the view in that country of the U.S. as an enemy even as it relishes the direct relationship it has with leaders of the world's most powerful country, National Journal's Marc Ambinder reported in November. The tenuous relationship is crucial to the United States's war on terrorism because of the significant role Pakistan plays geographically and diplomatically in the region.