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Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft start flights in U.S missiles-hit tribal region

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Sept 14, IRNA
Pakistan-Fighter Planes
Fighter aircraft of Pakistan Air Force on Saturday conducted flights in the tribal region for the first time where U.S missiles attacks have killed many people in recent days, witnesses in the region said.

At least 12 people were killed in North Waziristan tribal region in a suspected US missile attack on Friday, the second strike in three days in the same region.

U.S drones frequently fire missiles in the tribal region to hit suspected militants but civilians are also killed in such attacks, according to locals.

Reports say that President Bush recently authorised US raids against militants in Pakistan without prior approval from Islamabad.

There is growing concern in Pakistan over unilateral US military action and the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has condemned the strikes but said Pakistan will pursue diplomatic path to convince the U.S to stop attacks in Pakistani areas.

Pakistan Air Chief Air Marshal Tanvir Mehmood has said that the air force can respond to violation of air space by the U.S forces if the government issues orders.

The army spokesman Major General Athar Abass said on Thursday that the army has been issued orders to react in case of violation by Afghanistan-based U.S forces.

A tribal elder in Miranshah, the center of North Waziristan, said on phone that he saw Pakistani fighter planes hovering over North Waziristan.

"The people are very happy over action by Pakistani aircraft in view of the frequent air violations by U.S spy planes," the tribesman told IRNA.

"I saw the fighter plane also flying towards the Afghan border area," the tribal elder said, requesting not to be identified.

Missiles hit two buildings near Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border.

Locals say that the recent U.S missiles have killed and injured women and children, as tension in the border region was rising.

Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Pervaz Kayani says that no external force is allowed to operate in Pakistani areas and there are rules of engagements for operation of forces on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border.

On Monday, at least 14 people were killed and 15 injured in a suspected US missile strike in North Waziristan, witnesses and officials said.

The attacks follow persistent US accusations that Pakistan is not doing enough to eliminate Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries in the border region.

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