US drone attack kills 18 in Pakistan

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A US drone targeted a residential compound and a vehicle in northwest Pakistan’s restive tribal region close to the Afghan border, killing at least 18 suspected militants, officials said today.

The CIA-operated unmanned plane fired four missiles targeting the compound and the vehicle in Danday Darpakhel area in North Waziristan tribal region’s Miranshah last night.

“So far the reports show that around 18 people have been killed in the incident,” a security official.

The identity of those killed was immediately not known but the militants linked with al-Qaeda are active in the area.

This was the second drone attack in two months.

Last month, seven militants were killed and three injured when a drone strike targeted a compound in Mangroti village, in the Shawal tehsil of North Waziristan.

Pakistan opposes the drone attacks, saying civilians are killed in the strikes, but US maintains it target militants.

The fresh strike may create tension between the US and the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who promised in his election campaign to stop the unilateral drone attacks.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has “condemned” the US drone attack.

“These strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan has repeatedly emphasised the importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes,” Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry said.

“These drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region.”

He said Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications.

Sources said the target of the drones was operatives of Haqqani network militant outfit which is closely linked with Afghan Taliban.

It was the biggest strike of the year in terms of death toll and second since Nawaz Sharif took over as the prime minister after the May 11 elections.