US drone attack kills 16 suspected militants in North Waziristan
Those killed are suspected to be members of the Hafiz Gul Bahadar Taliban.
Initial reports say the drones fired ten missiles on unidentified targets in Darray Nashtar, destroying nearby residential buildings.
The death toll is expected to rise.
Security officials speaking to AFP said, "US drones fired missiles to target a militant compound, killing three rebels."
According to Express News, locals began rescue efforts whereas drones circling overhead caused panic and fear among them.
Earlier, at least nine suspected militants were killed when US drones targeted a vehicle in the Sheen Khwar area on the outskirts of Humzonee village, around four kilometres from Miramshah.
Pakistan has repeatedly criticised American drone strikes in its territory, calling them counter-productive.
Attacks by unmanned US aircraft are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, which says they violate its sovereignty and fan anti-US sentiment, but American officials are said to believe the attacks are too important to give up.
COMMENTS (70)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732003896-0/Zendaya-(1)1732003896-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732004108-0/Express-Tribune-(5)1732004108-0-270x192.webp "pti rules out talks with govt ahead of nov 24 protest")
1732000275-0/Untitled-design-(9)1732000275-0-270x192.webp "dhaka university lifts ban on pakistani students")
1732002687-0/Untitled-design-(11)1732002687-0-270x192.webp "five held for stealing railway equipment")
Victoria Nuland will be pleased if she read these comments. She ll thank for her brothers and sisters here in Pakistan and ll pray they ll may be together here and in the hereafter :P
@Dr.A.K.Tewari: Is there any way to confirm they are Wahahbi or we are suppose to parrot the dogma?
@ iron hand , Let them deny their legacy . We will also start to deny our legacy that is spread between Gandhi to Abrahm Linckon . In fact a considerable fraction of we Indian blame Gandhi and Nehru for the current situation of the subcontinent .
@Karachities: I wish drone attacks hit Taliban and its supporteras
@Kulamarva Balakrishna: Man, what is Taravadu Taranga trust for Media Monitoring? Is it a mental hospital trust or a thiru-vada idli trust.
@Karachities: So these are "shaheed"? What about those who these"shaheeds"beheaded? What about innocents daughters my country, who are being prevented to attend schools by these "shaheeds"? What about those shias, they killing every day? what about innocents who are slaughtered in prayers by these "shaheeds"? No words for those innocents? I welcome drones from anyone, even from DEVIL. God BLESS USA and all the DEVILS of the world who might be helping in eliminating these CRIMINALS.
I don't know if drone are taking revenge of shia killing or TTP taking revenge of drone attacks by killing muslims particularly shia muslims and bombing indiscriminatly. Whatever, I favor drone attacks as these have never targeted Pakistanies, rather those like Osama who were not only living illegally in Pakistan but also using its soil for terrorists activities all over the world. So, my heart and mind goes with the drones, not for the religion of hate and terrorism (TTP).
@Karachities: Karachiets are also a product of great conspiracy . The ''Himalayan blundder ''
Kashmir and issue of Israeil needs no evidence of the hatched conspiracies being nurished by Ummah for the last many decades . But the fact is tbat Ummab never existed . The Ummah of terrorists has only prooved their existance . There by being targetted by Drones .
We had only protested yesterday and they replied in their own style. Coward nation we are. Don't worry there are many other countries like us.
@nitish: Pardon my language but I think you are thoroughly unaware of history. . I hope you realize that both Gandhi and Nehru were in jail for a long time prior to our independence. That was the opening that some opportunists wanted and got. When both these people came out of jail, they found the political landscape considerably altered. In fact by then a bunch of British too felt that Pakistan would take care of minorities. I needn't tell you that even people like Jim Corbett who was considered a God had to somehow escape the backlash in India. . We have learnt our lessons and become a more tolerant society now. Lets forget the past and move on. What unites us is our belief in the future of India. We simply do not care what Gandhi and Nehru wanted, but we must acknowledge their sacrifice.
Well Done...Keep Up Drone!
Now a message to Taliban sympathizers that they won't need "VISA" to go to these areas.....Our Friend drone will help to remove all miscreants....
Drones Can you please target their training compounds, so once for all they can evaporate to Hell?
@Nadeem: Oh i see....Thats why We r witnessing 100s at wagha .Do you want us to show you the picture of how mass exodus took place at the time of partition.It will never be a big deal.But remember this time it will take place only one way .....you can imagine which way.
@all those who think they deserve trials. Sounds grand but totally ignores reality and common sense. Your talking about armed thugs/militants/terrorist who control a section of "your country" where your own army is afraid to travel. So just who is going to arrest these terrorist -- surely not anyone in Pakistan. You have had over a decade to bring this terrorist to justice and the World is still waiting.
Great news. Kill them even more. They are animals
Is anyone around who is technically equipped to explain why Pakistan is unable to take any counter-measures against Drones? We don't hear about even attempts to intercept them. Are they so totally undetectable? I am talking of the Pakistan Army and Air Force here, not salwar-clad irregulars.
@Karachities: Please use spell check, your command of the queens English is atrocious!
@Karachities: Do the TTP provide any jury before the attack with suicide bombers?
To those who oppose the hundreds of drone attacks I have a few easy questions: Can you give one example when a drone attacked a hospital, bazaar, school or any civilian place? On the contrary who has been blowing up the buses, schools and beheading minorities and Shia? If Pakistani army cannot provide justice and punish the killers there are God sent ababils in the sky. Great job and continue till the terrorists are eliminated.
@Prakash according to medical reports that girl wasnt handicapped , plus ,if you people too much worry then dont burn copies of our Holy book in first place ,thats what whole non Muslims do around the world ,burn Holy Books ,and when then are arested under the law ,they say minorities arent given rights , minorities and all other Non-Muslims should remain in limit and laws wont effect them ,since that girl wasnt handicapped how or who gave her the scriptures to burn ? plus how wud you feel if someone comes and burn the Holy scriptures of Hindus in Mumbai , here tht girl got arrested but in ur country that person would be died before taken to jail and first control ur cruelities on Minorities in India then speak here on our minorities ,at least someone is here to speak for minorities in our country , in India no one is there to speak for them (according to Amnesty International report ,India is a major country for not giving rights to Minorities(2000 people has been killed by Hindus extremestin Gujrat alone ,majority consisting of Muslims , plus the Church members association India said (2011 report),each day 3-5 cases of Christians ,killing and rape and stuff occurs by Hindus Extremist ,and is gonna increase by 2012 .so go and care about your minorities @ISHTIAR HUSSAIN i appreciate that but you urself know how many innocents have also been killed ,and when will the US take care oft heir own people in cities likes Kansas ,where the rights of chidren are blown in the air by Christian Extremists http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/08/09/kansas-doctor-under-attack-for-not-forcing-ten-year-old-rape-victim-to-give-birth/
@Truth: till today they never targeted a single person of TTP , never ever news report gave any news regarding the killin of TTP member ,the day a drone kills TTP ,i will salute America till then they are bunch of same Americans disguised as TTP . Who on God's green earth was Baitullah Mehsud then? . The leader of the TTP was killed in a US drone attack. Better salute America right away!
Vienna,August 24,2012 Why no reader tries to translate yesterday´s unmanned Foreign Office, FO dress down namely FIRE order given to an unnamed American "diplomat"? Take the responsibility please. Taravadu Taranga trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
Obama administration thanks for drone attacks great job keep it up,,, being a waziristani i support the drone attacks because those killed in drone attacks such as Uzbak, Tajik,Turkman,Arab,Punjabi Taliban etc are not the resident of waziristan.
who is behind 911 and 26/11, everyone knows. It was just a consiprecy to kill more muslims and attack on poor muslims states. did any trail run in any court which proved 911
When Panetta met with Pakistan's military chief, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and they agreed on a joint operation the drone activity stopped. When Pakistan military reneged and said it wouldn't happen, drones started back up, making up for lost time. Message here seems pretty clear.
@nitish @Sinclair "Pick up a map and locate North Waziristan. Then locate PoK (Gilgit Baltistan). It will be very enlightening."
Nitish, I am somewhat sure you were being sarcastic. And please take a chill-pill yourself dude.
Expressing our views (the first Amendment) comes with responsibilities of not offending other for the sake of it.
..Peace
Obama is doing his best: for india, for world, for USA. Drone strike must be continued till pakistan is free from terrorists. USA is atleast doing the task of india. God bless USA
@Umer:
Shaikh Rasheed survive only in his political statements. As you well aware that Shaikh predict something in every talk show but ground facts shown just oposit.
TTP is scattered all over the Pakistan therefore to deal with them is an internal matter of a sovereign Pakistan .. Ofcourse America is not concerned with them at present but may help if a joint command came in to existence in due couse it time .
Another gift for us against restoration of NATO supply.
Pakistanis who are either silent or supporting these brutal attacks will have one on their own homes.
''HELL FIRE "This is an international effort with an internationally developed tool to eliminate those who knows the language of weapons only . America alone can't be blamed thats why if the on going effort remained futile ,the WMD will be the ultimate resort and america may go to that extent as even then she will remain unchallenged becouse non nuclear WMD is also an international tool ,developed to ensure world peace .
I hope that the US diplomats are summoned again. That was effective!
Instead of attempting to condemn these strikes and characterize them as illegal (which they aren't), the Pak government should congratulate the US and declare solidarity on this issue. They would not need to fight to save face (an impossible battle) and the real issues of what terrorists factions are protected by Pakistan would become clear. Then they could be tackled openly and forcefully. Until Pak gets out of bed with the terrorists, there will be no peace in Pakistan. That is unfortunate because it is awfully nice to think freely and go about one's business with no fear of being blown up at the market. That must be hard to imagine living in Pakistan.
@ Truth Baitullah Mehsud (chief of TTP), Ustadul-Fidaeen (the Teacher of Sacrificers) Qari Hussain, Naik Muhammad, Ilyas Kashmiri (the man behind attacks on GHQ and ISI offices) and many other dreadful TTP commanders were all killed in drone attacks. The US should be given credit for killing these beasts.
It's a clear repply on behalf of US ambassoder in Islamabad .
USA and Pakistan Army should be prepared to bear collateral damage rather then killing innocent people for the sake of a few terrorists. Get down there and get your hands dirty rather then firing missiles. I can imagine my family being stuck there and a drone dangling in the air. I would have been devastated.
Sad!!!
The repeated drone attacks by US over Pakistan at least confirms one thing, that drone attacks are being launched with tacit approval of GOP; and all the protests and condemnation statements issued by GOP, against drone attacks are just for the public consumption of Pakistani people and an eye wash, to hood wink the masses. This is all pseudo hullabaloo.
Once they are dead and can't speak for themselves, call them militants. Great!
Don't host, don't support and don't tolerate terrorism eminating from your soil. And then demand a stop to drones.
Is the name of first person who comments is ALLAAH, means GOD?? If yes, Moderator kindly do your job efficiently and remove the comments.
@nitish:Well before this country goes out of control, which will never happen by-the-way, your's will have disintegrated in atleast 100-200 pieces. Book your piece in advance.Adios
Can someone enroll in Journalism 101 and get us names of those killed and their crimes?
The drone strikes are not illegal, they are merely CALLED illegal. Under international law Pakistan has the sovereign duty to eliminate terrorists, terror havens, etc. from its territory. No action, no sovereignty claims with regards to attacks upon terrorists.
Of course, as far as the U.S. is concerned, these attacks are a matter of self-defense. So in the absence of a joint operational command with Pakistan these attacks must concentrate only on U.S. enemies, not Pakistani ones. Too bad Pakistani leaders let national pride get in the way of saving Pakistani lives from terrorists, but I don't doubt the drone strikes eliminate a few of the TTP nonetheless.
@Umer: Umer I find more hits for Karachities than any other comment.I wonder how majority of Pakistanis do not consider these militants as their enemies and turn blind eye when these terrorists kill innocent people.Should rest of world start losing hope to see normal and peaceful life in Pakistan?
@Sinclair: No problem.I m already enlightened.Any how whole pak is ours and whenever it will be out of your control no one can stop us from claiming over it.By the time you chill -will.
till today they never targeted a single person of TTP , never ever news report gave any news regarding the killin of TTP member ,the day a drone kills TTP ,i will salute America till then they are bunch of same Americans disguised as TTP
Those who kill in the name of religion are doing more harm than good but equally wrong is the extra judicial killing of humans. This vicious cycle will only fuel the flames of hatred. In 2001, I saw a report putting the estimated number of terrorists in NW and SW at 1500-2000 but since then atleast 8000 people have been killed by drones. Isn't that surprising? Or is it prelude to an ensuing war elsewhere?
Sham ll be always on the rulers who silently agreed to those attacks.
@Karachities:
I wish drones hit those who support these cruel terrorists in Waziristan.
@Karachities: In war there are no trials. Why are you so worried about those being killed in Waziristan, source of numerous attacks on Pakistan people, as against the numerous other people who get killed every day all over Pakistan? What is so special about these extremist in North Waziristan that you feel particular sympathy for them?
@nitish
Pick up a map and locate North Waziristan. Then locate PoK (Gilgit Baltistan). It will be very enlightening.
SUSPECTED - Yes ET you got it right this time!
@Yalda M: It is only liberals and Indians who find shameless pleasure in selective condemnation of cruelty. A normal Pakistani condemns killings of innocent people without discrimination.
National bird is still flying...........ha ha.........
@Umer: Give us that area.Its integeral part of J&k.We will take care of that and will wipe out mullah umar from there.
@Karachities: And what have you got to say to the innocent citizens who get blown up in the market while they are out buying food for their family? Drones do not randomly drop bombs on innocents but the terrorists do.
@unbeliever: What sovereignty? According to Sheikh Rasheed the visa for Waziristan is issued by Mullah Umer. We have already lost that area. Quit talking about our sovereignty over there.
Obama on a roll....
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Allah accept the shahadat of innocent pakistani muslim. shame on those who support this cruelty. no evidences, not judiciary, no trial, no courts, no cases, no crime but punished. I wish drone hit those who support cruelty.
sovereignty goes flying in air....these americans are droning NW as if they are out to kill all terrorists before 2014
I hope they targeted TTP.