US drone strikes 'completely unnecessary': Pakistan

Condemning the latest US drone strike in its territory, Pakistan Wednesday said the US attacks are "completely unnecessary" as Pakistani forces are battling the militants in North Waziristan tribal region.

Security sources earlier said that at least six people were killed and two others injured when US drones pounded a hideout of suspected militants in North Waziristan.

The pilotless aircraft fired two missiles on a compound in Datta Khel area in the morning attack.

"The government of Pakistan condemns the drone strike that took place in the early hours of Wednesday, at Garga, north of Shawal in North Waziristan Agency," Xinhua quoted a foreign ministry statement as saying.

"Pakistan regards such strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and demands their immediate cessation," the statement said.

The foreign ministry said the government of Pakistan was itself taking decisive action against terrorist elements in North Waziristan Agency, thus rendering such strikes completely unnecessary.

There was no information about the identity of those killed in the strike. Some sources said that the militants belonging to the Pakistani Taliban and another group led by Hafiz Gul Bahadar were targeted in the strike.

Security officials believe that the militants have moved to rugged mountains after the army launched a major offensive in June. The army said that over 1,200 militants have so far been killed and 400 hideouts destroyed.

Pakistan opposes the US drone strikes, however, the US has ruled out any change in the covert mission.

Wednesday's strike was the 19th in a tribal region this year. Over 136 people have been killed and dozens of others have been injured in such strikes in the tribal regions.