Three suspected terrorists wounded in the attack. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The attack took place in Shawal , about 55 kilometres west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, along the Afghan border.
"US drones fired four missiles into a militant compound. At least six militants were killed and three others were wounded," a security official told AFP.
A second security official confirmed the attack and death toll.
The officials said the identities of those killed were not yet clear.
US drone attacks are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, but Washington views them as a vital tool in the fight against Taliban and al Qaeda militants in the lawless tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.
The government has repeatedly protested against drone strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and there has been a recent decrease in their use.
During a visit to Islamabad at the start of August, US Secretary of State John Kerry suggested that drone strikes targeting Taliban and al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan could end "very soon" as the threat of militancy recedes.
According to an AFP tally there were 101 attacks in 2010, killing more than 670 people, compared to just 19 so far this year killing just over 100 people.
COMMENTS (37)
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@numbersnumbers: :Last time I checked we were not talking about America". Dear numbers, The article above is about US drone strikes, so I thought the discussion included America. Therefore, the next time ET prints an article about America I will not mention it, and then everybody will be like you and will miss the entire point.
However, getting back to reality it is reasonably obvious that you did not have an answer to the fact that out of the 50,000 deaths from terrorism, which are commonly touted, many more than half of them were insurgents, whoever they were, so as usual you tried to debunk it with trivia. Unfortunately, people such as you submit inaccurate data, which does not comply with the facts, but fits the simplistic picture of the world which a few people have. Interestingly, I have noticed that you invariably criticize, but rarely contribute. I would like to know who is pressing your buttons. In regard to terrorism identity, ET choose not to print my reply so you have a modified version.
@Sexton Blake: Last time I checked, we were not talking about America (or Venezuela, India, or Mars)! BTW, were do you get that "so-called terrorist activity" line? If not "terrorist activity", then what EXACTLY would you call it?
Although violent deaths are quite tragic we should really be looking at the statistics in a non-emotional way. Between 2003-2013, 49,506 people died from so called terrorist activity, which averages out at 4,950 per annum. Out of the 49,506 people, civilians accounted for 17,568, military 5,366, and insurgents 26,572. Thus, the average number of civilians who died between 2003-2013 works out at 1,757 per annum. By comparison the number of violent civilian deaths by homicide in America during 2010 alone were 16,000. I am not doing a putdown on America here. I am merely using comparative statistics to show that in large populations violence does occur in unfortunately large numbers. However, although America's population is larger than Pakistan's, 16,000 civilian deaths compared to 1,757 civilian deaths would indicate that Pakistan is not quite as violent as the fear mongers are indicating. Obviously, I have not included all forms of violent deaths in Pakistan, but never-the-less the above statistics do indicate that we should not rush in quoting statistics willy-nilly without analyzing them first of all.
@Acha Bacha: Why don't the children of 50,000 Pakistanis killed by these perverts become terrorists. Because these Pakistanis are civilized people. Uncivilized people will become terrorists ,no matter what. Get it apologists for murderers.
I wonder why the US does not consider bombing the lawless tribal areas around Chicago? Of course the lawless Chicago area may be next
At least someone is acting against terrorists.
Logic of Taliban per IK: because the drones are killing us,let us kill our own citizens,let us destroy Pakistan.That would tell the drones!!!
Don't blame all terrorism on IK. His intentions are good but his lack of awareness of the situation on the ground is most disturbing.
We need drone attacks every day. God bless the USA.
welcome welcome Mr.drone.
@Irfan: "Oh! My GOD! My Leader Imran Khan will be so depressed today with this terrible news. No No , not because terrorists killed 60 innocent Christians today, He is feeling so down because of this drone attack on our Taliban brothers. Could someone help our leader Imran Khan to change his mood .He is so sad., Help, please someone help him, Please. Where is Ayla Malik? " . Our Peaceful Band of Brothers, are left with no other choice than blasting Schools, Churches, Imam Baras or whar have you. Ayla is with a plastic surgeon or getting help from some beauty technician. Old Faithful, Jagat Bhabi Jem, is busy comforting her new paramour. . You are right, IK really needs some serious help.
giving media freedom was the greatest mistake of Mushrraf....useless discussion are by Anchors ,even promoting hatred between different section of population...even promoting religious fanatic like Hafeez Saeed
@IK:
IK is an embarrassment to himself and everyone of his sheep followers
Murad malik can you give me the figure how many talibans or qaeda members have been killed by drones? give me exact figures
@MAK: YOU SURPRISE ME . what negotiations you wanna do with these people. They hate us drones or no drones. Americans or no Americans. they hate us and will keep hating us no matter what. How can you be so naive man?
The taaliban has already responded the drone attack in Peshawar.
After todays attack in Peshwar, i say more power to the drones, KILL them all. I thank God that these drones have killed alot of TTP and AL-Qaeda terrorists, orelse God knows what they would have done to us. Keep going strong DRONES.
Only 670 killed in 2010? That's nothing. Kill more, maybe in thousands. Then we cry why is taliban fighting against us.
Great, now also target PTI leaders for supporting TTP terrorists who are killing innocent people in Peshawar and other areas of KP. Shame on PTI.
This and the blast at church in Peshawar will adversely affect the peace dialogue with the TTP.
My take on the matter: 1. The media freedom was probably the worst thing to have happened in Pakistan especially with respect to news channels. They will simply not shut up and they can find no solution to the complex issues which has compounded the country. Their commentary, tweets and facebook pages are cheap publicity 2. The army should rule this country for the next 25 years with technocrats. The country is riddled with incompetency and corruption. And the same lot gets to rule again.
Taliban and US drones can you please do it outside Pakistan. tired of you guys
Spy game is on to play with lives of people. There is no value of human life... yes animal has value... we can attack a country for 1000 people dead with chemical attack but no problem if 50,000 or millions innocent people killed with drones and spy game
I LOVE YOU DRONE - drone drone come again drone drone kill the butchers drone drone eliminate beasts drone drone destroy sanctuaries drone drone give us freedom drone drone free us from terrorists.
Drone and suicide bombs, both on the same day, can somebody clarify the times?
God bless the US of A. Now please drop one on Hafiz Saeed...pls pls let the Christmas come early.
Despite losses of Army Generals, Pakistan is (open-) secretly helping the jihadi militant aiming 2014 US withdrawl from Afganistan.
US should increase drone strike in North Waziristan '5-star jihadi santuary'.
Wow!
With Drones in the air and Taliban on the ground we the people of Pk are sandwiched b/w...:/
Whoever strikes...we are the ones getting killed...
Oh! My GOD! My Leader Imran Khan will be so depressed today with this terrible news. No No , not because terrorists killed 60 innocent Christians today, He is feeling so down because of this drone attack on our Taliban brothers. Could someone help our leader Imran Khan to change his mood .He is so sad., Help, please someone help him, Please. Where is Ayla Malik?
Two attacks on same day blast at church and now drone