North Waziristan: 19 killed as US steps up drone strikes

Four attacks target militants; officials say four foreigners among the dead.


Afp/express January 02, 2011
North Waziristan: 19 killed as US steps up drone strikes

MIRANSHAH:


Four US drone strikes in one day have killed 19 suspected militants in North Waziristan. Meanwhile Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information and Culture Mian Iftikhar Hussain has confirmed the death of the highly wanted Taliban commander and master trainer of suicide bombers, Qari Hussain.

Seven militants were killed in the first attack when US drones fired four missiles and destroyed a car and a militant compound, officials said.

“Two US drones fired four missiles. At least seven militants have been killed,” one official in Miramshah told AFP.

In the second attack, a US drone fired two missiles and killed four militants, officials said. The attacks took place in Mandi Khel, 25 kilometres from Miramshah.

The 11 men who died were thought to be attached to Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, security officials in Miramshah and Peshawar said. An official at Miranshah said they are seeking more information about suspicions that foreigners were among the dead.

Meanwhile, a third missile strike  killed four militants. The drone targeted a moving vehicle in Datta Khel, local officials said. “Two missiles were fired by a US drone and targeted a militant vehicle. ” a local official in Miramshah told AFP.

At least four people were killed in the fourth U.S. drone strike on Saturday.

Confirmation: Qari Hussain killed

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information and Culture, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, has confirmed the death of the highly wanted Taliban commander and master trainer of suicide bombers Qari Hussain.

He also confirmed that Barkatullah, the mastermind involved in the murder of Iftikhar’s son and another terrorist Fazalaullah, have also been killed.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (16)

G.Din | 13 years ago | Reply @satyam "...I’m fail to understand that how they know all those killed were terrorists ? " @Batho Batho :...i agree .. how do they know if the people killed were really terrorists.." The reason they know that they are hitting terrorists is from their chatter which is constantly monitored 24x7. Beside that, there is human intelligence on ground which directs attacks. No, it is never possible to assure that they are ALL terrorists, nor can you expect to do so in a warlike situation to wait until only terrorists are in your cross-hairs. Some civilians will always be collateral causalities @satyam "...Otheway It gives me an impression as if only terrorists stay in Pakistan." And those, whom they allow to live or who are needed for their comforts! @Imdad "...even with their ‘Greatest Army in the History of the World’ they are bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan and the civilian casualties continue to mount everyday. " I suppose Pakistan could have done a better job. Yeah! Do you now understand why India has half-a-million plus troops in Kashmir? If you didn't have to worry about civil casualties, you wouldn't need as many troops or the ‘Greatest Army in the History of the World’.
AM | 13 years ago | Reply @Tahir.....yea sure, after making Afghanistan a trash bin, just let them come inside Pakistan and make it a hell hole too. Before we know it, tomorrow they will also be asking to expand into Balochistan and who knows what will happen next......maybe we will be seeing American tanks in Karachi in a matter of time.
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