PESHAWAR: Six people were killed, and two others injured, in a US drone strike in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan on Sunday.
According to initial reports, a drone fired more than six missiles, of which four were fired at a compound and two at a vehicle suspected of militant activity.
There has been a string of US drone strikes recently which have killed several high-ranking militants including the brother of a Pakistani Taliban commander along with five others in Azam Warsak, while six more militants were killed in another strike in Hishokhel village.
Under President Barack Obama, the United States has drastically stepped up drone strikes in Pakistan but refuses to discuss them publicly.
Nearly 60 US drone strikes have been reported in Pakistan so far this year, dozens of them since US Navy SEALs killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States deteriorated after that, and again over accusations that Pakistani intelligence was involved with the Haqqani network, blamed for a siege last month of the US embassy in Kabul.
Meanwhile, around 2,000 Pakistanis staged a demonstration outside parliament on Friday to demand an end to US drone strikes, claiming they kill more innocent civilians than extremist leaders.
(With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2011.
COMMENTS (9)
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Innocent people are being killed in the drone attacks but shame on our so called independent media that they always showed that militants were killed in the drone attacks. Our media should not call them militants or terrorists. Do our media have figures of these militants or innocent people killed in such attacks. Shame on us.
If you look back on the reporting of the past 30 or so drone strikes you will notice a few common threads: A "security official" sometimes releases the names of the "militants" killed in the strike, along with the general location and the target type (compound, house, vehicle, etc). These "security" types are either sources for the ISI?Army, or the Dark forces of the CIA/RAW/Mossad/KGB/Blackwater/PETA/SInnFein/FARC/RedBrigade/BurgerKing/KFC! So please, who do you think is really providing "targets" for Drones?
@Shafiq Nasery: Let me give you the fact of the matter: The US and the free world is not happy for what pakistan has done with its nuclear capability ie selling it to N. Korea, Libya or Iran... So, America and the West are waiting for perfect moment to not only destroy Pakistani war machine but to destroy Iranian regime... Taliban killings and here and there drone attacks are just a play and (excuse)... (If Pakistan wants to survive and not to be destroyed and divided we recomend for you to give up your nuclears weapons, free Baluchista and give back Pashtounistan to Afghanistan.) Very truly yours my dear dal-khor...
Where these drones are coming from ? from USA IRAN or Afghanistan. they are coming from Pakistan. who you want to blame? it is Pakistan. unless government of Pakistan is involve in drone strike no one can operate from your country.
The Killers die with the same weapons that they have used against others.These terrorists have killed innocent people in KP and we are still bleeding.God is merciful and has listened to our prayers.Thanks America.
@JJ: "Are they really militants or innocent citizens?"
No the Americans just like to hit moving vehicles! Ever wondered why the area is immediately cordoned off by the militants ?
@Shafiq Nasery: If the US was currently waging war against you, there'd be no mistaking it I assure you.
Are they really militants or innocent citizens?