Two people riding a horse targeted by drone. PHOTO: FILE
The missile attack, the first by an unmanned American drone in Pakistan for at least a month, came in Dehgan village, 30 kilometres west of Miranshah.
"A US drone fired one missile, killing a militant travelling on horseback," a security official said.
Local intelligence officials said the drones fired two missiles killing two militants.
Security officials in northwestern city of Peshawar the man was believed to be a "foreign national" – a term officials use to describe al Qaeda linked militants.
The last reported drone strike in Pakistan was on February 8 and killed nine militants, though unnamed American officials quoted by the New York Times last week said the incident was not a US attack.
The covert strikes are publicly criticised by the Pakistani government as a violation of sovereignty but American officials believe they are a vital weapon in the war against militants.
Few of the victims are publicly identified, but on January 3 Pakistani officials said warlord Mullah Nazir was killed in a strike on neighbouring South Waziristan.
Nazir used to send fighters into battle in Afghanistan and was accused of sheltering al Qaeda affiliates in South Waziristan.
According to the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, between 2,627 and 3,457 people have been reportedly killed by US drones in Pakistan since 2004, including between 475 and nearly 900 civilians.
COMMENTS (16)
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For those claiming that Pakisan's sovereignty is violated, question is where is your government's writ? Not in FATA, Not in Balochistan, Not in Karachi, Not in Punjab (Hello Joseph town plus camps in Muridke and Jhang), Not in KPK where polio workers continue to be killed and girls schools continue to be blown up. If you export terroriss to your neighbours and claim that they are non-state actors (making rubbish of your claims of sovereignty) then others wil step in to take care of the non-state actors.
@Rex Minor: "Each signal from the base is causin the return signal to the base from the hoy land of Waziristan"
And you continue to claim to be a German foreigner with no Waziristan Pushtoon heritage?
Some cannot find any innocent civilian's death, so it is the talk of innocent horse's death. This once again proves that drones only target the known terrorists who are mostly foreigners not Pakistanis.
Finally. Score 1 for civilization. Thank God for Paul Bremer and his emphasis on direct action.
Poor horse, I hope he escaped.
The announcement of the drone action took some time before every american could have known from the unusual climate change. Each signal from the base is causin the return signal to the base from the hoy land of Waziristan. The age of cyber war has begun.
Rex Minor
The horse was innocent!
@ Socratese:
(The terrorists are killing innocents inQuetta,Karachi,Peshawar)
Indeed Drones and “those terrorists” are partners!
@Innocnt Muslim: By the way, which court tried and sentenced the recent bombing victims in Karachi and Quetta???
The intended target was the horse. Innocent riders were killed.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, shameful act by liberals, instead of condemning these cruelty, you people are making joke. I wish these drones hits your drones. Which court proved the innocent person as a terrorist? where is the justice?
Poor horse....
@Rashid: The horse was punished for bad company. Our condolences are with the innocent demised horse.
Double-Sawari wasnt allowed and may be they didnt knew. Even Horses arent safe in our land...
I feel sorry for the horse !!
What about animal rights? They killed an innocent horse with a drone strike!
Dear drones,warm welcome back;why did you take so long this time?The terrorists are killing innocents inQuetta,Karachi,Peshawar;our pleas to Govt&Army to take action against these criminals is falling on deaf ears,you are our only hope.Keep visiting.