North Waziristan: 19 killed as US steps up drone strikes

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

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.