The unmanned aircraft fired two missiles in Miranshah town. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The unmanned aircraft fired two missiles in Miranshah town at a time when many in the country are protesting against the CIA drone campaign.
The timing is further controversial as the strike comes on the eve of Pakistan Army's change of command ceremony where Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will hand the baton to his successor General Raheel Sharif.
Express News correspondent Nasrum Minallah reported that the drone remained in the area for a while after the attack, flying very low.
It could not be ascertained whether the drones targeted a vehicle or a compound.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led (PTI) government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has held an increasingly anti-drone stance with regular sit-ins being arranged to protest against the strikes.
The November 21 drone strike, which killed six people and injured eight others in the populated area of Hangu, had angered the people in the province further with many political parties, including PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami blocking the Nato supply routes.
Drone damage
The Pakistani government officially condemns drone strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and this has been a contentious issue between the two countries. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to the US urged President Barack Obama to halt the programme.
Despite their deep unpopularity in Pakistan, the US sees them as a vital tool in the fight against militants in the tribal areas.
The number and identity of casualties is often hard to determine because the tribal areas are off-limits to foreign journalists and aid organisations, but the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates deaths at between 2,500 and 3,700.
Hundreds of civilians have died in the attacks, according to various estimates, prompting outrage in Pakistan and abroad.
A major report last month from rights campaigners Amnesty International said the US may be guilty of war crimes.
COMMENTS (57)
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Civilan death 99.9% sure, else they would've used the word "terrorist" Also, ET the way you report this is shameful, show some respect.
Doesn't US realise its only stirring more hatred in the region
Waziristan people face TTP on one side & Drones on other. If you want to fight TTP, send real human soldiers to kill only the target instead of robots which identify even a dog on ground as terrorist.
Not all Families & Friends of "collateral damage" will sit quietly !!!!
ET: why are you not publishing my comments. Pls publish this.
Well tried Imran but your efforts don't seem putting any pressure on US. Pls also remember that Nato consists of 28 countries, and may not worth fighting all 28 countries. especially when country is facing record low Foreign exchange and IMF help, unless and untill you want to drown the nation and blame NS for it. Some other way to hurt US and drown Pakistan might be BLOCK EXPORTS TO US and Nato countries too. Thats how they'll starve to death or stay without clothes and towels and stop Drone attacks. Can block Airspace for all airways from Nato countries. Kick out all embassadors and deplomatic staff of Nato countries. So many ideas coming to my idle mind..
@p r sharma: This is not an indian issue
U.S. rushes to try to control fallout from Afghan strike
Tim Craig 9:15 PM ET
The killing of a two-year-old in a U.S. airstrike couldn’t have come at a worst time for U.S. diplomats as Hamid Karzai insists on waiting to sign a security pact. Even a nation like Afganistan is making US to apologise on killing a 2 year old. How many people have died in Pakistan and our own leaders laugh at it. SHAME
@Nawaz Stalin: "No use of blocking the route, nothing will make any difference…." . What else did you expect from someone who plays always for the galleries?
@Hossain: You don't understand the simple fact that but for drones, many more would have been lynched. I get a feeling that you seem to think "Let our folk be killed by our talibans on daily basis, but i don't mind, where as i refuse to drone" correct me if i am wrong.
this how they welcomed your new 'army chief'..!!
@Rex Minor:
Imran Khan knew it all along when he started his campaign for a dialogue with the Talibans.
Mr Khan is not the ONLY one favouring peace deal. In fact he is not the FIRST one either.
Find out what has happened to earlier Peace Deals. Open Your Eyes.
http://san-pips.com/download.php?f=140.pdf
http://www.pvtr.org/pdf/GlobalAnalysis/MakingPeaceWithTheTaliban.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WarinNorth-West_Pakistan
@Sheharyar:
Once i read , every action has its reaction. If talibans are being hit, then it is obvious to expect a response. I wonder how many Pakistanis can stay quiet if their relatives or family is being hit.
Sir Jee,
Perhaps no one told you, but the TTP Killers have already killed 40,000 Pakistani Civilians and 5,000 security personnel. Where is the 'Reaction' as per your theory?
Its time for people to decide whether America or Talibans are bigger terrorists.
Drones have killed about 3,000 in Pakistan. Taliban about 45,000.
To me the Taliban appear to be the bigger threat.
Is your arithmetic different or what?
Oh, the demand for drone just went up!
@Dr.A.K.Tewari: Dr. drones are most effective remedy against these monsters.
@True: Really in it lies their grace
Drone strike is an international effort that is why every body is just a silent spectator only Ik and JI is raising voice against it . They are the supporters of terrorists and this strike will continue till there is a single terrorist and their supporter in Pakistan . BLOKADE of NATO supply can not stop this mission .
We should understand one point: drones are much more precise (i.e they cause least civilian casualities) than the F-16 bombing of our armed forces.
So what is the problem with PTI and JI against drones just because the terrorists are being killed by US?
Pakistanis need to honestly decide who is good for them ie drones which kill 95% terrorists or TTP who kill 100% innocents and serving defence personnel.
Confused: was bad Taliban killed by a Pakistani drone or good Taliban killed by a US drone? Protest or rejoice?
What a news ! Some Militants were killed in a drone attack- - - We should all pray two Nawafils to thank God. Thank God. If these militants had lived , who knows how many terrorists attacks they would have carried out. Thank you USA also for killing the terrorists.
@Sheharyar: - "I wonder how many Pakistanis can stay quiet if their relatives or family is being hit."
More than 40000 Pakistani innocent civilian and soldiers have been killed by TTP. What about their family and relatives ? . How many of them have been taken weapons against the TTP/ militants ?
Once again Thanks to the Drone and company for punishing the killers of innocent and terrorist in Pakistan with death. Since the Govt. has failed to keep the people of Pakistan especially the minorities protected, The Drones are the best means eliminate them. I will pray for the safe return of all drone flights till each and every terrorist are eliminated
@manqul: -- Drone strikes are made against those who are sitting safely in Pakistan and hitting USA/ Afghan / NATO officials/ interests crossing the border. If Pakistan can not stop these extremists attacking crossing the border naturally these extremists will receive drone strikes. Strong country like USA will not tolerate / will neither listen to Pakistan's opposition( request ) to stop drones, nor will care when to hit and when not to hit . USA/ NATO is determined to eliminate these extremists to the maximum depending upon the opportunity / trace is available to them. Pakistan can not dare to touch CIA officials( or their embassy officials) based , in Islamabad. That will mean cutting off the relation with USA which is unaffordable. Fools only get carried away with emotions unable to see the ground realities and the consequences.
@Sheharyar:
It took you quite some time to ask the question about 'who is terrorising whomWHO' f who and whereas Imran Khan knew it all along when he started his campaign for a dialogue with the Talibans.whose families and dwellings are constantly being terrorised by the current USA administration.
Rex Minor
Country's security is a prime duty of Army. All the politicians are buzzing with different statementsabout drones strike but those who are the sole responsible are tight lip. Can anybody ask our new COAS as why they still silent on that continuous abuse of country and ultimately theirs also.
Thank you drones. Drones are doing the job that the police and army are supposed to do i.e. eradicating the bad guys.
in drones we trust.
Once i read , every action has its reaction. If talibans are being hit, then it is obvious to expect a response. I wonder how many Pakistanis can stay quiet if their relatives or family is being hit. Its time for people to decide whether America or Talibans are bigger terrorists.
The US are unstoppable, they will target little more to the east like islamabad searching for bad guys.
Glad someone is doing something about Taliban.
@paki boy
Ironic how people can only criticise IK and let Nawaz get away with every stupid act he commits. IK you are our only honest and true leader.
IK is befooling his voters .
Drones will stop eventually.What about TTP?
Miranshah is part of South Waziristan FATA and FATA is under federal government. does anyone question pmln
A thanks giving present from the Americas.
Rex Minor
@Sarmad: First have the guts to call the taliban as terrorists which whole of pti avoids. Shame on imran khan
@Shabbir: yeah should wake up like saddam and qaddafi
They are testing and teasing the people and govt of Pak
Time for the PTI protestors to pack their bags, get off the streets and go home :)
those people who questioned PTI workers blocking nato supply should also question what is PMLN doing.
I thought America was frightened after PTI's protests in KPK.
Next target: Islamabad.
Centeral government should show some spine..I am just puzzled by the statements coming out of PML N government..if you see the comments Interior minster of this country and then you see the famous chair counting Info Minister's's statement..they are just 180 degree opposite to each other...why are they playing on the both side of the wickets...Today I saw PM saying that they still want dialogue with Taliban as this is the only way forward..and when same thing IK says he becomes Pro Taliban...so why not implement same logic to PM and Interior minister....
No use of blocking the route, nothing will make any difference....
A slap on PTI's stance. Looks like their blockade of NATO has made no difference to the concerned party. Come on do something fruitfull IK.
Harassment of truck drivers should continue to show CIA we mean business!
If drones were so peaceful, terrorism would not have increased in the past 9 years. As drones have increased throughout the years, so have terrorists. Please wake up from this coma now!!!! Even if a Pakistani person kills a dog in trying to protect themselves in US they would get life-time jail.
Party time for our intellectual liberals that think US is helping us by doing these drones. How blinded can one be?
And the federal govt still sleeps
Slap on the face of Pakistanis.. They have no respect for us.. When will our country wake up and stand up for themselves? I am fearing never.
Keep the pressure on PTI! Hope that the new Chief will not let foreign nations desecrate the sovereignty of the nation. Time for Pakistanis to unite and urge the PAF to strike down the drones vandalizing our homeland! Then we can work on methods to neutralize the foreign funded factions of TTP.
So pti's bashing drivers did not affect them.
The headline of this news is quite disturbing. It seems that ET is quite happy with the attack. Some other word instead of unstoppable could have been used.
Whether or not you agree with the approach of IK, at least have guts to say wrong as wrong! Shame on you ET!
Pakistan Government is guilty of murder for assisting US drones to murder people in Pakistan. The CIA Officials in Pakistan must be arrested. just imagine Pakistan intelligence SIS officials in US ordered the murder of US citizens in US. US would surely declare war on the whole of Pakistan. So what ever actions US would take about the murder of US people on US soil then Pakistan should do exactly the same. If Pakistan Government does not arrest the CIA official then Pakistan people must make citizen arrest on the CIA official. We should note that a legal court in Pakistan Peshawar has ruled that US is guilty of murder by Drone killing. So the legal ruling allows Pakistan people to arrest CIA officials.
What now Imran Khan?
Such a shame that #pmln being in power with strong mandate, can't take any practical step against drone strikes. No different than ppp. #mukmuka was no joke.