PESHAWAR: Sixteen people, including two fighters of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were killed on Wednesday in the deadliest US drone strike in three months.
About six missiles were fired at a compound in Babar Ghar area in Sararogha Tehsil of South Waziristan Agency, killing 15 to 18 fighters, security officials said.
Local officials said that the territory belongs to the Mehsud tribe. The official added that about 25 TTP militants were reported to have been hiding in the area.
Taliban sources confirmed that there were two militant training centres in the area run by Abdul Nasir and Abdul Mukhlis.
The TTP has a strong hold in the Saktoi area, which is located between South Waziristan and North Waziristan and has hardly any link or communication from outside.
“The target was a base of the Pakistan Taliban. We have reports that 16 to 18 militants were killed,” a security official told AFP in Peshawar. An official in Wana, the main town of South Waziristan, also confirmed that a TTP base was destroyed and said there were reports that “some foreigners” were also killed. The word “foreigner” is typically used to denote al Qaeda and Uzbek militants.
“It was a Taliban base. They were using this place as a training camp, to keep weapons and to take shelter,” the Wana official said. “The drones came almost at the same time,” he added.
Officials said the attacks came minutes apart at around 2:30 am about three kilometres from the border of Afghanistan’s Paktia province.
Wednesday’s strike was the 63rd so far this year, according to an AFP tally. A similar strike, in neighbouring North Waziristan, had killed 21 fighters in the Afghan Taliban Haqqani faction on August 10.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2011.
COMMENTS (48)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1713281138-0/US-Treasury-Secretary-Janet-Yellen-(2)1713281138-0-270x192.webp)
The international community has adopted a laissez faire attitude towards the wanton killing of poor Afghans by the American CIA by using remote controlled millitary aircraft armed with deadly missiles. This kind of operation by the Central Intelligence Agency is unlawful because civillians are targeted by air to surface missiles designed for millitary targets. The CIA is guilty of unlawful and intentional launching a cross border covert operation on the Pakistani Afghan border that is used to execute people suspected of terrorism without a trial. Programmes of such a nature are not supposed to be permited anywhere in the world. These are barbaric acts that characterise the American mentality and the Obama administration. If such acts were to happen anywhere in the first world the CIA operatives will be arrested for mass murder. The message to the imperialist Americans is that they must vacate Afghanistan and stop shooting civilians with missiles. The CIA are war criminals disrespecting human rights all the way.
We didnt get into this on a whim thousands of innocent Americans were victims of this poison before and after ( 9/11) The evil was born and fosters attacks on Americans from this area and continues to try and attack americans all over the world If the Pakistan Gov. hides and gives comfort to this scum then so be it God gave us drones and well use it I hope till eternity.
This flies in the face of the narrative being popularized in Pakistan since the Abbottabad raid. TTP is believed to be American/Indian funded operating out of Afghanistan, with only innocent tribals living in the FATA, who are being targeted by these drone attacks. How can our government protect us from TTP and the likes, when they have ceded territory to them within its borders, and would not operate against them in the fear of upsetting the mythical friendly ones among them who might one day provide us some fantasy strategic depth in a far away place where everybody already hates us for this policy. Americans must be really stupid to be bombing their own assets. Wasn't Baitullah killed by a drone? What about Ilyas Kashmiri, and countless enemies of the Pakistani state which our state refused to deal with.
@"Pakistan-a nation in denial": Dear , Do they have any prove that those two were militant, if they have then show infront of media or atleast share them with Pakistan intellegence , it is the responsibility of government especially Dr. Abdul Rehman Malik to inform the nation, that who were those two and other 16 (There were 18 killed, by BBC). Yeah you are right, other 16 were also guilty because they were living with them , but these 16 might be children , women, neigMuhahbours (which havn't any relation with them) now tell me killing of these innicent is justifiable or not through this way or anyway. Pakistan is the only country where the drones are used for killing people , there are many other countries where circumstances are wrost then Pakistan.
as far as my emotions are concerned about these Innocent killing , then I am emotional about any innocent killing of human.
Back at Langley USA is letting RAW agents operate drones. These people use these drones as they are playing games. I have credible info on this.
Shame on Pakistani govt and Armed forces which is complicit in the murder of its own people. Welcome to the slave republic of Pakistan.
Where is Dharna Khan now, who is fooling around with people ... what a crap !!!
@Mirza: Nice people of Afganistan and Pakistan need to be respected and their life and property is be protected. These people are Not Red Indians and their land is not going to be taken from them. We are all God's creation and worthy of respect.
Where are IK's dharnas against drone attacks?.. I guess He has taken another U-turn.
You live by the sword then you die by the sword
Pakistan govt. or the Army or the ISI do not know who are these terrorists killed. Our government agencies dare to enter these areas which is half of our country, but we are fighting for Kashmir.
Why are these bad boys bring debt to their own nation and suffering to their fellow man. Where is UN and a veto to stop these crazy people. why are Pakistani agents calling these people bad names? They are God's creation and worthy of respect.
@Mateen: Forget about the drones. After becoming the PM, IK would be dancing to tunes of the US to seek aid from it since Pakistan cannot survive without aid.
Where r Khan's dharnas now?? and knowing who has allowed drone strikes n who has the capability of retaliating, why doesn't he give a dharna in "pindi"? n really ridiculous that he gives dharna TO DISRUPT NATO SUPPLY on saturday eve n sunday...when the supply is already off... he makes sure that his dharna doesn't disturb the supply! who he's working for?
You don't like the drones --- then quit providing sanctuary to terrorist.
As some one said in some reply 'Drones are National Bird of Pakistan" These militants are supposedly to be killed by army but this bird is doing job.. But pity part is innocents are also killed. Hene logistical support to these devil millitants should be stopped and policy of stratergic assets must end.
What happened to APC's resolution ??? How many Pakistanis will be terrified and killed by Americans???
as no media coverage from the tribal area is allowed, it is utter nonsense to claim that drones are killing innocent civilians..no one is asking the drone thing from the tribal people who preffer drone attacks compared to army operations which has rendered millions homeless..it is the only good thing happening in town..no one is there to stop intimidation of innocent tribals at the hands of taliban except drones....read farhat taj's book TALIBAN ANTI TALIBAN..uncle sam is doing a great job..keep it up
"TTP has a strong hold in the Saktoi area which is located between South Waziristan and North Waziristan and has hardly any link or communication from outside.-" Any comments Mr Rehman Malik?
@A2Z:
What about 2 terrorist? Why 14 were living with 2 terrorist? Answers these question my dear before making things emotional here.
How can you say among 16, two were militant without any judicial trial , It is International Law that "Innocent unless proven guilty" .How can you American slay these INNOCENT men, women, children without any inquiry or judicial trail. Do you have any record of these 16 people or many other people which had slayed by you...
May Allah show you right direction.
@Khalid Javed: The question is not how many killed here or there, but the question is regarding the violation of sovereignty. No matter NATO kill no one but entering in Pakistan's territory is a violation.
@Khalid Javed: 10 or 20 killed by drone attacks! is it still a news when on streets of Karachi tens of people being killed daily?
The answer to your question is very simple !! Those in Karachi are Pakistani Citizens, where as those in Waziristan are National Stratigic Assets, according to your Rulers, hence their Newsworthiness !
Cross Border US TERROR...US War Crime more then extra judicial killings..
US is fighting Pakistan's "illegal" war
These drones have to answer to almighty on the day of judgement which is 1000 years away.
As they say, drones are indeed the only game in town ; You keep sending 'em , we keep whacking 'em. Heck, i would go so far to say that, the Drone is indeed the best thing to happen since the wheel !!!
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, who knows they were terrorist or innocent. who will pay for these extra judicial killings???
How sad that we are happy at killing of our muslim brothers!.......9/11....wt a joke
"The CIA operates a covert drone programme which targets suspected militants in countries like Pakistan."
Cmmon...there is no other country like Pakistan...is there?
Shame on you all for supporting such acts of terrorism by a foreign force.
"Suspected Militants", if suspense is proof enough to kill someone than I believe the whole Judicial system of this country should change and the law rewritten. Send the masses to the gallows on basis of superficial suspense. If two TTP militants were "successfully" eliminated, than what about the other 14 who lost their lives.... what would you term them as "TERRORISTS" "TERRORIST ASSOCIATES", or "COLLATERAL DAMAGE".
I wonder what the likes of Mir, Mirza and A J Khan would have to comment if one of these foreign drones was to fly over cities of Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, or Islamabad tomorrow to eliminate terrorist groups. Would the killing of the masses of this nation be justified than.
Think twice before you barf out your nonsense .
16 people including "two militants"...what about other 14...:(
10 or 20 killed by drone attacks! is it still a news when on streets of Karachi tens of people being killed daily?
its like savages do. its not humanity. day of revenge is coming soon. cruelty is now, and tomorrow will be, obvious.
Thank you for doing our job for us free of cost, as long as collateral damage is kept at a minimum.
IK cheerleaders don't want to be anywhere near drone or drone related information, but they have an answer(which sounds like a question) for every question,some of those epics are as follows
-if not IK ,who else -give me an alternative -oh come on, you don't understand -you don't have any self respect...........
This attack is blessing in disguise and must be a relief for Pakistan.
If commentators in Pakistan don't have the guts to question and oppose the Drone war in Pakistan then at least read the following Opinion Article by Pratab Chatterjjee of The Guardian to illuminate themselves. Ignorance cannot be Bliss.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/07/cia-unaccountable-drone-war?INTCMP=SRCH
Its TTP turn now. US well done, please carry on regardless.
if TTP militants are being successfully eliminated then why Imran Khan is against drones..?
Imran Khan, where are you? Drone is waiting for you... please come and save pakistan from usa. You are the ONE who can save us from usa.
10 million question Who will save us from TTP and Jamaat-ud-Dawah?
more "suspected" militants eh? were they too like those two 12 year old and 15 year old they bombed the other day or a mother sleeping beside with two daughters. or more like these in the pictures below http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/01/14/u-drones-kill-but-terrorism-spreads/drones-kill-innocent-people/
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AWSHPM27C40/TckQDFrkOaI/AAAAAAAAAKU/9RnDfwwejnQ/s1600/drone%2Battack%2Bvictims.jpg
Who says that Taliban defeated America? Please keep the Ababils going till there are no terrorist left on Pakistani soil. As we say, it is a dirty job but somebody has got to do it. If we do not do it, then the US would take care of it. Thanks Uncle Sam