PESHAWAR: Multiple suspected militants were killed by a drone strike carried out by the indigenously produced 'Burraq' drone on Thursday, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The drone strike was carried out in the region of South Waziristan.

“A drone strike by a 'Burraq' drone was carried out in South Waziristan and targeted terrorists’ hideouts,” stated ISPR.

Read: Three killed in military's first drone strike in North Waziristan

It is pertinent to mention that this is the second confirmed drone strike by a Pakistani manufactured 'Burraq' drone.

The armed drone was used for the first time since its development in November 2013.

Pakistan already has several types of unarmed surveillance drones in operation, but ‘Burraq’ and ‘Shahpar’ were the first surveillance drones to be developed locally.

‘Burraq’ was developed alongside ‘Shahpar’ in cooperation with the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), which is a civilian controlled Pakistani scientific research organisation.

Pakistan Army had tested ‘Burraq’ armed with laser-guided ‘Barq’ missile for the first time on March 14, 2015. Both Burraq drone and Barq missile, according to the army, have been indigenously developed.

Also read: Pakistan successfully tests first indigenous armed drone

The trials were witnessed by Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif who said it was a “great national achievement and momentous occasion”.

Pakistan had long aspired to have armed drones for bolstering its counter-terrorism capacity, but was only offered surveillance drones.

The efforts to indigenously develop drone capability were first reported in 2009.