DATAKHEL: Six suspected militants were killed and three others injured when a US drone hit a militant hideout in Lowara Mandi area of Datakhel Tehsil in North Waziristan.
Officials and locals claimed that US drone fired four missiles on a militant compound.
“Six militants died on the spot while three others dwelling in the adjoining room of the same compound were severely injured” said an official in Datakel.
There were conflicting reports about the identity of militants killed in the drone strikes. Some said that the slain militants were foreign fighters while other revealed that they included members of local militants network.
“The militants killed in the attack were member of Hafeez Gulbahader and Sadiq Noor group, local militants groups previously active in the area” said the intelligence sources.
US drones have been regularly targeting militant hideouts in North Waziristan. This was the second drone strikes in the month of December however since 2014 CIA has carried out nineteen drone attacks in FATA.
The government of Pakistan categorically condemned the drone strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Particularly in the pretext of ongoing military operation [Zarb-e-Azab] in the North Waziristan, the incumbent government of PML-N believes that persistent drone strikes will negatively affect the efforts of security forces in ensuring peace and stability in the area.
“Pakistan regards such strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. As has been made clear on earlier occasions also, these strikes have a negative impact on the government’s efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region,” said in a statement issued by foreign ministry.
The Obama administration curtailed drone strikes following a request from Pakistan as the incumbent government [PML-N] was expected to pursue peace talks with the militant outfits under the banner of Tehreek Taliban Pakistan. However, after the failure of peace talks with the TTP the drone strikes have picked up.
