Drone strike kills eight, wounds six in North Waziristan

Published October 6, 2014
A US drone is seen in the image. — File photo by AP
A US drone is seen in the image. — File photo by AP

PESHAWAR: In the second attack within 24 hours, an unmanned drone killed eight persons and wounded six others in Shawal district of North Waziristan tribal region on Monday.

Intelligence sources say the drone targeted the residence of a Taliban commander, Habib, and left at least eight suspected militants dead and about 6 others injured in Shawal district, which stretches across both North and South Waziristan tribal regions.

The strike destroyed the compound which is situated in Mangroti area near the Pak-Afghan border region and appeared to be a transit point for militants across the border.

The details and confirmation of Habib's death could not be independently verified since the media's access is severely restricted in the troubled region.

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

Pakistan's military in mid-June had launched an all-out operation, named 'Zarb-i-Azb', against Taliban militants in the region which is still underway.

Earlier on Sunday, a drone strike had killed five people in the Kand Ghar area of South Waziristan's Shawal district.

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

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