8 dies in U.S. drone strike Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Jan 1, IRNA -- At least eight people were killed in a strike by U.S. drone aircraft in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan on Friday, local TV channels reported.
Reports said that two missiles were fired on a vehicle in the border town of Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan tribal region.
It was not immediately known as to who was travelling in the vehicle.
The U.S. has stepped up strikes in North Waziristan tribal region in recent days, which the U.S. considers as the launching pad for attacks on the foreign troops across the border into Afghanistan.
Over 40 people have been killed in series of drone strikes in North Waziristan this week.
Pakistan publicly criticizes the U.S. drone strikes but it is widely believed that there is understanding between the two countries. The government denies any understanding.
Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday strongly condemned U.S. drone strikes in the tribal regions and said these are counter-productive.
'Our military and political leadership had very ably alienated local tribesmen from the militants, but when a drone attack is carried out they get reunited again. This shows these (drone attacks) are counter productive, therefore we condemn it and we are against it,' Prime Minister Gilani told the National Assembly.
'We have told the world and the United States that this technology must be given to us so we take actions on our own,' he said.
Earlier lawmakers from the tribal regions condemned the drone strikes and asked the government to take serious note of the attacks.
1423
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30162825
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
