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'Seven killed' in Pakistan strike | 'Seven killed' in Pakistan strike |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A suspected pilotless American drone has fired two missiles in a border area of Pakistan, killing at least seven people, Pakistani officials have said. | |
Reports say two vehicles and a house were hit in South Waziristan. The identity of those killed is not known. | |
US-operated pilotless drones have launched more than 20 missile attacks in Pakistani tribal areas since August. | US-operated pilotless drones have launched more than 20 missile attacks in Pakistani tribal areas since August. |
The Pakistani government is under huge public pressure to defend its territory against such attacks. | The Pakistani government is under huge public pressure to defend its territory against such attacks. |
The latest missile strikes came as America's top military commander, Admiral Mike Mullen, made his second visit to Pakistan this month. | |
Adm Mullen, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, arrived from Afghanistan where he met President Karzai and discussed the deployment of additional US forces. | |
At the weekend, Adm Mullen said the US could send up to 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan by the middle of next year, more than previously mentioned. | |
'Anti-aircraft fire' | |
Reports quoted unnamed officials as saying that the missiles struck two villages in South Waziristan on the border with Afghanistan. | Reports quoted unnamed officials as saying that the missiles struck two villages in South Waziristan on the border with Afghanistan. |
Reports said a drone began circling at about 0300 local time, and then struck a few hours later. | |
Witnesses say that one of the targets was a vehicle mounted with an anti-aircraft gun, and that militants had been using the weapon to fire at the drone. | |
Four people are believed to have been killed as missiles tore into both the vehicle and an adjacent building. | |
Soon afterwards there was another strike in a second village nearby, with another vehicle targeted. Witnesses say that Taleban fighters gathered to bury the bodies. | |
A resident of one of the villages told Reuters by telephone that local tribespeople had "opened fire on the drones after the attacks". | A resident of one of the villages told Reuters by telephone that local tribespeople had "opened fire on the drones after the attacks". |
A security official told AFP news agency that it was not clear whether the missile attacks had targeted any senior al-Qaeda or Taleban members. | A security official told AFP news agency that it was not clear whether the missile attacks had targeted any senior al-Qaeda or Taleban members. |
Violation | Violation |
US drone attacks are believed to have been largely on target, hitting Taleban and al-Qaeda hideouts in the north-western Waziristan tribal region. | US drone attacks are believed to have been largely on target, hitting Taleban and al-Qaeda hideouts in the north-western Waziristan tribal region. |
There have been few civilian casualties, officials say. | There have been few civilian casualties, officials say. |
But Pakistani media and opposition parties view these attacks as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. | But Pakistani media and opposition parties view these attacks as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. |
Last month, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said his government was considering "a number of options" to counter attacks by US drones inside its territory. | Last month, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said his government was considering "a number of options" to counter attacks by US drones inside its territory. |
His statement came after Pakistan's air force chief said his force was equipped to tackle the drones militarily. | His statement came after Pakistan's air force chief said his force was equipped to tackle the drones militarily. |
The opposition has been pressing the government either to counter US strikes militarily, or to at least raise the issue at the United Nations. | The opposition has been pressing the government either to counter US strikes militarily, or to at least raise the issue at the United Nations. |
The Pakistani government says these attacks are counter-productive as they help offset the negative popularity the militants have gained in areas under their control. | The Pakistani government says these attacks are counter-productive as they help offset the negative popularity the militants have gained in areas under their control. |
However, it has been reluctant to move either diplomatically or militarily to stop these strikes. | However, it has been reluctant to move either diplomatically or militarily to stop these strikes. |
This has fuelled speculation that the attacks may be part of a secret pact between Pakistan and the US. | This has fuelled speculation that the attacks may be part of a secret pact between Pakistan and the US. |