US drones struck twice in Pakistan's volatile Waziristan tribal region on Thursday, killing at least 11 militants, including a brother of Taliban commander Mullah Nazir.
In the first attack, a CIA-operated spy plane fired two missiles at a pick-up truck in Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan Agency, TV news channels quoted officials as saying. Five senior militants, including Nazir's younger brother Omar Wazir, were killed. Nazir, who finalised a peace deal with the Pakistani military in 2007, confirmed the death of his brother.
Another close relative of Nazir was also killed and several militants were injured in the attack. The second attack targeted a house in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan Agency, killing at least six militants. The spy planes fired four missiles at the house, TV news channels reported.
The target of the strike could not immediately be ascertained. The missile strikes were the latest in a series of such attacks that coincided with stepped up US pressure on Pakistan to crack down on militant groups like the Haqqani network in the volatile Waziristan region to facilitate the endgame in Afghanistan.
Mullah Nazir's Taliban faction carries out cross-border attacks in Afghanistan from bases in South Waziristan Agency. The group finalised a peace deal with the Pakistani military in 2007. It also has links with the Haqqani network.
The US has refused to halt the drone strikes despite Pakistan's protest. During a weekly news briefing at the Foreign office today, spokesperson Tehmina Janjua did not give a direct reply when asked if Pakistan would raise the drone strikes in the Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan next month. Janjua said Pakistan's policy on drone attacks is determined by the consensus resolution passed by a recent joint session of parliament.
This resolution had called for the halt of such strikes. The resolution had called on the government to suspend supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan if the US did not stop the drone strikes. The opposition now blames the government for not implementing the resolution.