Drone strike kills 12 people in North Waziristan
Drone fired six missiles on a house.
A US drone strike on a compound in North Waziristan killed 12 suspected militants on Monday evening.
According to the report, the drone fired six missiles at a compound in Shawal Tehsil, believed to be housing militants.
An intelligence official seeking anonymity told The Express Tribune that the missiles were fired at the Torabi Markaz, a compound used as training facility by militants “the drone struck the compound with at least six missiles, destroying it completely.”
The official added that initial reports suggested 12 suspected militants had been killed, however, the number of casualties are expected to rise.
The strike comes days after talks between Pakistan and the US discussed a framework for future drone strikes where the US would pass on intelligence to their Pakistani counterparts who would then take appropriate action. It is the first strike in the holy month of Ramazan.
Islamabad has repeatedly denounced drone attacks on its tribal areas as counterproductive to the overall fight against terror, and that such unilateral actions violate the country’s sovereignty and provoke militancy.
Human rights activists have also condemned drone strikes for the high number of civilian casualties. The Obama administration claims drones are important in taking out al Qaeda linked militants.
Clerics in North and South Waziristan, in protest against the drone strikes, had announced of boycotting polio vaccination campaigns in the areas.
According to the report, the drone fired six missiles at a compound in Shawal Tehsil, believed to be housing militants.
An intelligence official seeking anonymity told The Express Tribune that the missiles were fired at the Torabi Markaz, a compound used as training facility by militants “the drone struck the compound with at least six missiles, destroying it completely.”
The official added that initial reports suggested 12 suspected militants had been killed, however, the number of casualties are expected to rise.
The strike comes days after talks between Pakistan and the US discussed a framework for future drone strikes where the US would pass on intelligence to their Pakistani counterparts who would then take appropriate action. It is the first strike in the holy month of Ramazan.
Islamabad has repeatedly denounced drone attacks on its tribal areas as counterproductive to the overall fight against terror, and that such unilateral actions violate the country’s sovereignty and provoke militancy.
Human rights activists have also condemned drone strikes for the high number of civilian casualties. The Obama administration claims drones are important in taking out al Qaeda linked militants.
Clerics in North and South Waziristan, in protest against the drone strikes, had announced of boycotting polio vaccination campaigns in the areas.