Eight suspected militants killed in North Waziristan drone strike

Pakistan has condemned the attack, terming it a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity

PESHAWAR: Eight suspected militants were killed in latest US drone attack in border area of North Waziristan on Wednesday, security officials said.

"The drone fired two missiles, killing at least eight people and injuring two others," a security official in the area told AFP via phone on condition of anonymity.

"There may be more dead bodies under the rubble," he said.

The identity of those killed could not be determined immediately, however, few of them are believed to be foreign militants.

An intelligence official in the area confirmed the attack and said militants loyal to the warlord Gul Bahadur and the feared Haqqani network operate in the area, as well as foreign Uzbek fighters.

Another security official in Peshawar also confirmed the strike and said the Haqqani network and foreign militants are active in the area.

US forces have intensified drone attacks on both sides of Pakistan-Afghanistan border in recent days. Two days back, more than 20 suspected militants from Pakistan were killed in a drone attack in border Kunar province of Afghanistan. Mullah Fazalullah - chief of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan - reportedly escaped the attack narrowly.

This increase in strikes comes at a time when Pakistan Army is engaged in military action against militants in North Waziristan since June 15, 2014. The troops have reportedly killed around 1200 militants in the operation, with officials claiming to have cleared most of North Waziristan.

Pakistan condemns drone strike

Pakistan on Wednesday condemned the latest US drone attack in the border area of North Waziristan.

“Pakistan regards such strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and demands their immediate cessation. The government of Pakistan is itself taking decisive action against terrorist elements in North Waziristan Agency, thus rendering such strikes completely unnecessary,” a Foreign Office statement said.