A US drone fired two missiles at a house in Datta Khel. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
NORTH WAZIRISTAN: At least four militants were killed when a US drone fired missiles at a compound in Datta Khel tehsil of North Waziristan Agency on Sunday.
A security official said that a US drone fired two missiles at a compound surrounded by thickets in Manzar Khel area in Datta Khel near Pak-Afghan border, around 40 kilometres towards west of Miranshah.
According to tribesmen in the area, six drones were hovering over the tehsil since afternoon spreading panic among the residents.
In the evening, the drones fired missiles at the compound killing militants, they said adding that fire erupted in the compound after which local militants reached the spot and shifted the bodies to an undisclosed location.
The last drone attack was also reported in the Datta Khel tehsil on March 22. The drone had fired two missiles at a vehicle parked in a bazaar killing four alleged militants.
The London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism has compiled press reports that indicate US drone strikes have killed up to 3,581 people in Pakistan, including as many as 884 civilians and 197 children since 2004.
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.
COMMENTS (15)
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@Abu Adam: While I am not for indiscriminate bombings of anyone, the problem in Karachi is not one of anti-state activities. People in Liyari and Karachi are not carrying out suicide bombings and killing our officers and men. Karachi's problems are related to land mafia and local politics. In FATA, you have an army of anti-state elements being trained and then sent to the cities to carry out bloodshed.
Also Karachi has had its fair share of operations "cleanup". What is needed in FATA is a similar operation, yet it would be costly both in terms of lives and money.
For those who support these strikes answer me one thing,since the violence has not been in control in Karachi for years and years shall that be bombed too....?
yes why wait for strikes. let them strike all the people who have wrote comments on this article and let them strike with drones on our cities as well. nobody are going to do anything anyway. bunch of jokers these commentators are. one strike on you and your family and then i ask you how you feel. everything was so good before these cowards drones came and destroyed all their peace in these areas. i feel for them big time.
The drones are charting Pakistan, just in case those who approved fall out of line, then a drone will visit them while they lie asleep in their bedroom.
A US drone fired two missiles at a house Govt of Ir Pakistan confimed it a team work!
Most of the people writing in are a bit slow, and will believe anything. If six drones had been hovering around all day trained militants would have scattered, taken cover or moved out of the area. It appears reasonably obvious that the people killed were innocents, and fortunately for the American killers dead people cannot prove they were innocent. However, the US butchers do not care who they kill. The weekly report of the person in charge of operations will look good to his superiors.
To all those praising the drone strikes...please take some time out and read this report on drones:
http://www.livingunderdrones.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Stanford-NYU-LIVING-UNDER-DRONES.pdf
And please before you comment, try to take everything into consideration. Read what the drone program is doing to the civilians of the region.
Since the inception of Caretaker government its the first drone attack of its kind, thanks to Musharaf for admitting his fault and giving a boost to US to continue interfering a sovereign country in such a critical time of General Elections.
Why so much delay between strikes?? Keep the drones coming, The terrorists deserve no sympathy. They have martyred dozens of our soldiers in the recent weeks.
@tariq khan: You should thank Musharraf who though allowed only two or three drone attacks but US in the interest of Pakistan continued till date, has so far eliminated 2500 terrorists including many hard core ones.
missing you for so many days kill these barbarians
Good plz do more
How many civilians have been killed in actions carried out by the Pakistan army in these areas. I bet the civilian casualties are several fold higher in those but who will dare tell the truth.
Our govt and army would not do anything against these terrorists and the civilians would keep taking on the chin. Our establishment has left the country to the TTP and its allied terrorists to continue killing all secular and democratic leaders and the path for rightwing parties to steal the elections once again. Under these tough conditions drones are the only hope for the people of Pakistan. Thank you very much for putting the fear of God (drones) in the terrorists.
According to initial details, a US drone fired two missiles at a house in Datta Khel injuring several other people. More casualties are feared. . No indications of civilians casualties so why "More casualties are feared"?