6 suspected militants killed in US drone strike in Pakistan

Image
Press Trust of India Islamabad
Last Updated : Sep 06 2013 | 1:40 PM IST
Six suspected militants were killed and three others wounded in a US drone strike on a compound in Pakistan's North Waziristan Agency near the Afghan border.
The drone fired three missiles on a compound believed to be owned by the Haqqani network of Afghan Taliban in the village of Darga Mandi in Ghulam Khan Tehsil late last night.
Six suspected militants were killed whereas three others were injured in the strike, media reports said.
The CIA-operated spy plane continued its low-altitude flights in the area after the incident, local residents said.
The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack and said such strikes also set "dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations".
"The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the US drone strike. These unilateral strikes are a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes," the Ministry said in a statement.
On August 31, a US drone killed at least four militants in a missile strike targeting a compound in the village of Heso Khel, around 35 kilometres east of Miranshah.
The US has not stopped its drone campaign despite repeated protests from Pakistan, which describes the attacks as violation of its sovereignty and counter-productive for the war on terror.
US officials maintain the strikes have eliminated a lot of high-ranking al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.
Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry had hinted towards an end of the drone campaign in the tribal areas of Pakistan, as he said on August 1 that the signature strikes could end "very soon".
This was the first time that a senior US official had indicated that there could be a definitive end to the programme, which the CIA has in the past called an effective counter-terrorism weapon.
According to reports, a total of 565 militants have died in around 400 drone strikes in Pakistan. However, rights groups say many non-combatants have also been killed.
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan condemned the attack and said he will raise the issue of drone attacks during an all-party meeting next week.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 06 2013 | 1:40 PM IST

Next Story