Twin drone strikes kill 21 in NWA

MIRANSHAH: Two US drone strikes struck terrorists in Pakistan’s tribal areas on Thursday, killing at least 21 fighters in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, BBC quoted officials as saying.

“The death toll may rise,” a Pakistani security official warned after the second strike. The missiles struck targets in the North Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border. Pakistan has previously complained that such attacks violate its sovereignty. Last month US President Barack Obama defended the use of drones to target terrorists in tribal areas. Security officials said that in the first attack two missiles killed at least five terrorists. Several others were wounded, although the exact number could not be established.

A second attack in the same area, near Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, killed 15 Uzbek fighters, officials said. There is no way of getting independent confirmation of the figures as reporters are prevented by the authorities from traveling to the region. The area is known as a sanctuary in Pakistan for the Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked terrorists. A drone attack last week hit a house in Spalga, killing at least nine people, including some Pakistani Taliban.

The US does not normally comment on drone operations, which have killed hundreds of people in recent years. The recent attacks come a week after officials said one of the most senior al Qaeda terrorists in Pakistan, Badar Mansoor, was killed in a US drone strike. Islamabad is hosting talks with leaders of Afghanistan and Iran to discuss counter-terrorism co-operation, and strengthening regional stability. daily times monitor. daily times monitor

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