Six killed in US drone strike in North Waziristan

Published June 7, 2013
Intelligence sources said the unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at a compound in Mangroati village in Shawal Tehsil. – File Photo
Intelligence sources said the unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at a compound in Mangroati village in Shawal Tehsil. – File Photo

NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Six suspected militants including “some high value target” have been killed in a US drone strike on a compound in Shawal area of the restive North Waziristan Agency Friday night.

This is first such attack since Nawaz Sharif was sworn in as prime minister this week. In his inaugural address to parliament, Sharif called for an immediate end to US drone strikes on militants, which many view as a breach of Pakistan's sovereignty.

The bombing comes 10 days after a similar US drone attack killed the Pakistani Taliban's second-in-command, Waliur Rehman, and six others in a major blow to the militant group.

President Barack Obama said last month the United States would scale back drone strikes, only using them when a threat was “continuing and imminent”.

Intelligence sources told Dawn.com that the unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at a compound in Mangroati village in Shawal Tehsil of the North Waziristan Agency situated on Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The area is considered a stronghold of Taliban and al Qaeda linked militants.

About the possible high value target hit in the strike, the sources said that information is being collected but the identity of suspected militants is yet to be ascertained.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...