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A suspected US drone strike killed several Taliban militants in North Waziristan close to the Afghanistan border, one militant commander and intelligence sources said on Thursday, in a rare strike on Pakistani soil.
If confirmed, the air strike, which happened on Wednesday, would only be the second drone attack inside the nation since US President Donald Trump took office in January.
Explore: Trump gives CIA authority to conduct drone strikes: WSJ
Abdullah Wazirstani, spokesman for the North Waziristan Taliban, a group linked to the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan, said the strike killed three civilian 'labourers' and seven militants from the TTP.
Malik Waheedullah, a local tribal leader, told Reuters he saw two missiles strike a mountain home which caught fire. "I drove away as fast as I could," he said.
Reuters quoted one Pakistani intelligence official and government source who said they believed the strike to be a US drone attack.
US officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
North Waziristan was a Taliban stronghold until 2014, when the Army launched a major offensive against the group and pushed many of its fighters across the border into Afghanistan.
Sources from the TTP identified one of the dead militants as Abdur Rahman, a senior commander of the group.
US drone attacks inside Pakistan have become rare over the past few years. In its last high-profile attack inside Pakistan, the United States last May killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in the southwestern province of Baluchistan.
For more live updates, follow Dawn.com's official news Instagram account @dawn.today
Comments (19) Closed
Well done USA.
Pakistani civil and military leadership is responsible to protect the sovereignty of the country.
Thank you USA
This is clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. Pakistan army is capable of destroying US drones and it should act to save attack on Pakistanis sovereignty and its people.
@Nabeel khosa Khosa sb Before commenting try to understand the facts, US Drones are of gr8 help to our ground troops they can target the places where our troops cannot reach easily, so far most wanted terrorists have been sent to hell because of the drones
Pakistan is absolutely clueless regarding US drone attacks. Why should it allow US to attack anybody in our soil. Pakistani military and civil Govt have made mess of these drone attacks. Nobody is coming to stand against these drones. This is what envoy to America was beefing from trump yesterday? Is this your poloicy? Then it is absolutely absurd.
if there is any secret deal took place between US and Pakistan which allows these drone attacks must come to an end .
We shouldn't allow anyone to carryout such attacks on Pak soil. If necessary, we can have these strikes by our own. We have the drones and the capability
@The_Truth ...... The truth is this drone strike was approved by Pakistan at the highest levels.
Thanks to USA for eliminating dreaded terrorists who don't respect writ of the government of Pakistan.
Well Done USA!!!.....you guys did the right thing!!
@Sajjad A Khan those drones are china made ...they are only form photo ops....
@The_Truth . USA says " you can run and hide but we'll come get you either with soldiers, drones, aircraft and even with MOABs Is need be".
@Alba Really? Where you got this information from?
Anything that target those criminals must be appreciated.
Thank you USA? its funny they get right through your airspace fire at your so called people on your soil and show you the finger and go back and dont even give a flying to let you know why and when and whom they did that to. Yeah you deserve to thank them. Lol
We have made a mess of this country by our rulers.
@Ravi vancouver destroying? They even don't know what was it? They believed it was a US drone strike
The more I read the more I get confused who is fighting against whom ? It changes every week.