US drone strike kills 5 in Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, April 13, IRNA -- A US drone aircraft fired missiles in Pakistan’s north Waziristan tribal region and killed at least five people Monday night, reports said.
TV channels reported that missiles were fired in Muhammad Khel area bordering Afghanistan.
Residents said they had seen pilotless drones were flying in the area before the strike.
It was not clear as to who were targeted but U.S. officials insist that Taliban and al-Qaeda militants are hiding in the area.
The United States has increased its attacks by drones in the tribal regions since a suicide bomber struck the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) center in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province on December 30. Seven CIA gents were killed in the attack and the bomber was shown in a video along side with Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsood.
Pakistan opposes drone strikes violation of its sovereignty but the U.S. officials consider it as effective source to eliminate al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives.
US officials and Pakistani opposition parties say the missile strikes are carried out under a secret agreement with Pakistan that permit Pakistani leaders to publicly criticize the strikes, the claim rejects by Pakistan.
In August, Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsood was killed in a drone strike along with his wife in South Waziristan.
US officials believe that Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud was also killed in South Waziristan in a similar strike but Taliban say Hakimullah is alive and the Pakistan army says it has no confirmation of his death.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 1051443
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