KABUL, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Thursday rejected recent media reports that ISAF conducted operations in Pakistan as "completely false".

    "The ISAF mission is to assist Afghanistan in providing a secure and stable environment to help Afghans rebuild their country and ISAF only operates in Afghanistan," according to an statement issued by ISAF.

    "ISAF has had a number of inquiries about its mission and area of operations, particularly regarding operations near or across the border with Pakistan," the statement said.

    "Recent, reporting in the media that ISAF conducted operations in Pakistan are completely false and ISAF do not operate in Pakistan," it stressed.

    ISAF sometimes may return fire near the Afghan-Pakistani border but only under approved rules of engagement of self defense.

    "Such incidents are coordinated and reported to Pakistan authorities," it said, adding "at no time are ISAF authorized to enter or land in Pakistan."

    Pakistan North West Frontier Province governor Owais Ahmed Ghani said in a statement on Wednesday that foreign troops from across the Afghan border had raided a Pakistani village killing over 20 people.

    Ghani described the incident as "a direct assault" on sovereignty.

    Afghanistan has a long border with neighboring Pakistan's tribal area.