Drone strike kills six in N Waziristan
Six missiles targeted a compound and a vehicle in Datta Khel.
PESHAWAR:
Six people were killed, and two others injured, in a US drone strike in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan on Sunday.
According to initial reports, a drone fired more than six missiles, of which four were fired at a compound and two at a vehicle suspected of militant activity.
There has been a string of US drone strikes recently which have killed several high-ranking militants including the brother of a Pakistani Taliban commander along with five others in Azam Warsak, while six more militants were killed in another strike in Hishokhel village.
Under President Barack Obama, the United States has drastically stepped up drone strikes in Pakistan but refuses to discuss them publicly.
Nearly 60 US drone strikes have been reported in Pakistan so far this year, dozens of them since US Navy SEALs killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States deteriorated after that, and again over accusations that Pakistani intelligence was involved with the Haqqani network, blamed for a siege last month of the US embassy in Kabul.
Meanwhile, around 2,000 Pakistanis staged a demonstration outside parliament on Friday to demand an end to US drone strikes, claiming they kill more innocent civilians than extremist leaders.
(With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2011.
Six people were killed, and two others injured, in a US drone strike in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan on Sunday.
According to initial reports, a drone fired more than six missiles, of which four were fired at a compound and two at a vehicle suspected of militant activity.
There has been a string of US drone strikes recently which have killed several high-ranking militants including the brother of a Pakistani Taliban commander along with five others in Azam Warsak, while six more militants were killed in another strike in Hishokhel village.
Under President Barack Obama, the United States has drastically stepped up drone strikes in Pakistan but refuses to discuss them publicly.
Nearly 60 US drone strikes have been reported in Pakistan so far this year, dozens of them since US Navy SEALs killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States deteriorated after that, and again over accusations that Pakistani intelligence was involved with the Haqqani network, blamed for a siege last month of the US embassy in Kabul.
Meanwhile, around 2,000 Pakistanis staged a demonstration outside parliament on Friday to demand an end to US drone strikes, claiming they kill more innocent civilians than extremist leaders.
(With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2011.