US drone attacks kill 21 in North Waziristan Agency

At least 21 people have been killed in a triple US drone strike on a compound in North Waziristan Agency on late Friday, the northwest region of the country bordering with Afghanistan.

According to the officials, three unmanned US planes hurled a total of six missiles on Datta Khel village, the main town of the Waziristan Agency, killing at least 21 people.

At least nine alleged militants were killed in the first attack while three most lost their lives in the second strike when they were busy in rescue activities. Unexpectedly, the third strike of spy aircraft occurred just after five minutes, killing five more at the spot.

A reported quoting an official of the security forces said, “At least 15 militants have been killed in these three drone strikes and the drones fired a total of six missiles”.

Another report quoting officials claimed that the alleged militants were gathered to send fights to Afghanistan for terrorist activities.

The village Datta Khel is considered to be a stronghold of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a militant commander who is blamed for sending fighters across the border to combat against allied forces battling in Afghanistan.

However, the latest strike came after a couple of days Pakistan reached to an agreement with the United States to resume NATO routes into Afghanistan.

Islamabad lift the ban after almost seven months when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered sorry over the losses of Pakistani military in the Salala check-post attack.

Pakistan blocked NATO supply-line in protest of the US attack on Pakistani check-post, killing 24 troops in Mohmand Agency.

Pakistan also condemned drone strikes saying they target innocent civilians as well. However, the Obama administration considers the spy attack a key weapon in the war on terror. The Human Right Activists across the globe, including the United States, criticize the drone attacks over civilian killings.

At least six alleged militants were killed in a similar attack carried out last Sunday in the region.

Pakistan is understood to have approved the US unmanned strikes on Al-Qaeda and Taliban targets in the past. But the government has become increasingly vocal in its public opposition as relations with Washington have plunked.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=28415

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jul 7 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.