2,714 people killed in 409 US drone attacks in Pakistan since January 2004: Report

The US has carried out a total of 409 drone attacks in Pakistan since January 2004, killing 2,714 people and injuring 728 others, a media report said on Friday.

The attacks over the years have targeted the areas of Bajaur, Bannu, Hangu, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, North Waziristan, Nushki, Orakzai, and South Waziristan, Dawn reported.

Majority of the drone strikes were carried out during the government of the Pakistan Peoples Party between 2008 and 2012.

Citing sources within the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), the paper said the period saw 336 aerial attacks, in which 2,282 people lost their lives and 658 received injuries.

The officials said that 2010 alone saw 117 attacks that killed 775 people and injured 193 others.

Between 2013 and 2018 -- during the government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz -- 65 drone attacks occurred in which 301 people were killed and 70 others injured.

In 2018, two drone attacks killed one person and injured another.

The top leadership of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has been killed in drone attacks. Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in one of such strikes in 2016.

Days after Mullah Mansour's killing, then Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif had said: "US drone strikes in Pakistani territory are regrettable and must stop."