U.S. drones kill 8 militants in Pakistan's tribal region
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, March 17, IRNA -- U.S. drone aircraft struck a compound and a vehicle in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday and killed at least eight suspected militants, residents said.
Two strikes in separate areas in an hour time also injured several others who were taken to the main hospital in Miranshah, the center of North Waziristan.
The first strike hit a vehicle at Manzoi area, some 10 kilometers from Miranshah and later missiles targeted a vehicle carrying militants in Datakhel area, some 25 kilometers from Miranshah.
On Tuesday, U.S. drones also fired missiles on hideouts of suspected militants in North Waziristan and killed at least 8 militants and injured two others, tribesmen in the region said.
Officials said that that those killed belonged to Taliban (Hafiz Gul Bahadar group).
Residents say that now the people do not immediately rush to the strikes sites fearing another strike as the drones now also hit those people who carry out rescue operation to pull out bodies and injured.
The U.S. has stepped up drone strikes in recent months after the suicide attack in a CIA center in Afghanistan’s Khost province.
The suicide bomber who struck the CIA center was shown in a video with Pakistan’s Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsood.
The fresh strikes came at a time when President Asif Ali Zardari in meeting with Director of U.S. National Intelligence Mr. Dennis C. Blair on Tuesday, called for early transfer of drone technology to Pakistan for its effective use by its own security forces and for its wider public acceptability.
The President said drone strikes not only infringe upon Pakistan sovereignty but also undermine the national consensus against the war on militancy, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.
End News / IRNA / News Code 1018348
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