US drone attack in North Waziristan kills six

Published January 19, 2015
A US drone could be seen in this picture. — AFP/File
A US drone could be seen in this picture. — AFP/File

PESHAWAR: At least six people killed and four others were injured in a drone strike in northwestern Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region on Monday, sources told Dawn.

More casualties are feared in the attack that targeted a compound in the Shahi Khel area of North Waziristan's Shawwal tehsil.

Intelligence sources say the drone fired two missiles killing six people. The identity of those killed could not be ascertained.

The area is off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to independently verify the number and identity of the dead.

Shawal valley lies on the border of Pakistan's North Waziristan and South Waziristan tribal areas.

Monday's drone strike comes days after seven suspected militants were killed in a similar attack in Shawal.

North Waziristan is among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with insurgents and have been strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, among others.

Pakistan's military in June last year had launched an all-out operation named 'Zarb-i-Azb' against Taliban militants in the region.

Drone attacks are widely unpopular across Pakistan and according to a survey conducted in June 2013, 66 per cent of the country's citizens oppose these strikes.

Opinion

Editorial

By-election trends
Updated 23 Apr, 2024

By-election trends

Unless the culture of violence and rigging is rooted out, the credibility of the electoral process in Pakistan will continue to remain under a cloud.
Privatising PIA
23 Apr, 2024

Privatising PIA

FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s reaffirmation that the process of disinvestment of the loss-making national...
Suffering in captivity
23 Apr, 2024

Suffering in captivity

YET another animal — a lioness — is critically ill at the Karachi Zoo. The feline, emaciated and barely able to...
Not without reform
Updated 22 Apr, 2024

Not without reform

The problem with us is that our ruling elite is still trying to find a way around the tough reforms that will hit their privileges.
Raisi’s visit
22 Apr, 2024

Raisi’s visit

IRANIAN President Ebrahim Raisi, who begins his three-day trip to Pakistan today, will be visiting the country ...
Janus-faced
22 Apr, 2024

Janus-faced

THE US has done it again. While officially insisting it is committed to a peaceful resolution to the...