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Deadly strike in Pakistan hotspot | Deadly strike in Pakistan hotspot |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least 12 people have been killed in north-west Pakistan in a suspected US missile strike, officials say. | |
The missile struck a home before dawn near Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border, officials and witnesses said. | |
They said the missile was fired by a US drone flying overhead. All the dead are reported to be Taleban militants. | |
The attack comes amid growing concern in Pakistan over unilateral military action by the US. | The attack comes amid growing concern in Pakistan over unilateral military action by the US. |
American and international troops are fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in Afghanistan. | American and international troops are fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in Afghanistan. |
Meanwhile, the Pakistani army says its troops have killed at least 28 militants in the north-west of the country. | |
House destroyed | |
The missile landed in a house in the Tol Khel area on the outskirts of Miranshah, local officials and eyewitnesses told the BBC. | |
"The pre-dawn strike destroyed the house," news agency AFP quoted an unnamed official as saying. | "The pre-dawn strike destroyed the house," news agency AFP quoted an unnamed official as saying. |
Another 10 people were wounded, he said. | Another 10 people were wounded, he said. |
Tensions in the border region are rising | |
It would be the fifth cross-border attack since the beginning of this month allegedly carried out by US forces, who have not officially confirmed their involvement. | It would be the fifth cross-border attack since the beginning of this month allegedly carried out by US forces, who have not officially confirmed their involvement. |
On Monday, at least 14 people were killed and 15 injured in a suspected US missile strike in North Waziristan, witnesses and officials said. | On Monday, at least 14 people were killed and 15 injured in a suspected US missile strike in North Waziristan, witnesses and officials said. |
The attacks follow persistent US accusations that Pakistan is not doing enough to eliminate Taleban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries in the border region. | The attacks follow persistent US accusations that Pakistan is not doing enough to eliminate Taleban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries in the border region. |
The upsurge in strikes has alarmed Pakistani military and government officials, who say it seriously undermines their counter-insurgency operations. | The upsurge in strikes has alarmed Pakistani military and government officials, who say it seriously undermines their counter-insurgency operations. |
Claim disputed | |
Meanwhile, the Pakistani army says its troops have killed at least 28 militants in the north-west of the country on Thursday night. | |
They said two army soldiers were also killed in the fighting. The killings took place in the troubled districts of Swat and Bajaur, on the Afghan border. | |
The militants have disputed the army's claim, saying no Taleban have been killed. | |
An army spokesman, Major Murad Khan, told the BBC that those killed included foreign fighters as well. | |
A Taleban spokesman, Maulvi Omar, told the BBC's Urdu service that no Taleban fighter had died in Thursday's fighting. | |
The casualty figures could not be independently verified. | |
Bajaur is believed to be a major al-Qaeda sanctuary, and has attracted several suspected US missile attacks from across the border in Afghanistan. | |
Security forces launched an operation against militants in the area in the first week of August. | |
Most markets and shops in the area have remained closed since then. | |
More than 300,000 people have since fled the area to avoid fighting. | |
Witnesses say those who are still in the area are faced with severe food and medicine shortages. |