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| Drones Kill 5 as Pakistan and U.S. Target Tribal Belt | |
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| PESHAWAR, Pakistan — An American drone strike killed at least five people in North Waziristan on Wednesday, Pakistani officials said, as the Pakistani military continued its offensive against militants in that tribal district. | PESHAWAR, Pakistan — An American drone strike killed at least five people in North Waziristan on Wednesday, Pakistani officials said, as the Pakistani military continued its offensive against militants in that tribal district. |
| The officials said that two drones fired at least six missiles on a compound near Miram Shah, the main town in North Waziristan, as tens of thousands of civilians fled in anticipation of intense fighting. | The officials said that two drones fired at least six missiles on a compound near Miram Shah, the main town in North Waziristan, as tens of thousands of civilians fled in anticipation of intense fighting. |
| The missile strikes underlined the resumption of America’s contentious drone campaign, after a hiatus of almost six months, and introduced a new element into an already volatile situation. | The missile strikes underlined the resumption of America’s contentious drone campaign, after a hiatus of almost six months, and introduced a new element into an already volatile situation. |
| Since declaring the much-anticipated operation in North Waziristan, the country’s main jihadist hub, the Pakistani military has deployed troops, tanks and fighter jets for a campaign against the Pakistani Taliban and allied international militant groups. | Since declaring the much-anticipated operation in North Waziristan, the country’s main jihadist hub, the Pakistani military has deployed troops, tanks and fighter jets for a campaign against the Pakistani Taliban and allied international militant groups. |
| So far, the army has mainly carried out airstrikes on militant bases that it says killed about 200 people, although that number could not be confirmed independently. Now, for the first time in years, Pakistani strikes in the tribal belt are occurring at the same time as American ones. | So far, the army has mainly carried out airstrikes on militant bases that it says killed about 200 people, although that number could not be confirmed independently. Now, for the first time in years, Pakistani strikes in the tribal belt are occurring at the same time as American ones. |
| Residents of Miram Shah reported six blasts in short succession Wednesday morning. “We heard one blast after another, just as we were offering prayers,” said one resident by phone, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. | |
| A senior Pakistani security official said the compound that was the target of the drones was located next to a seminary run by the Haqqani network, the militant group that has carried out numerous attacks on Americans in Afghanistan and held the American Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl hostage. | A senior Pakistani security official said the compound that was the target of the drones was located next to a seminary run by the Haqqani network, the militant group that has carried out numerous attacks on Americans in Afghanistan and held the American Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl hostage. |
| But it was not clear, he added, whether any Haqqani network fighters had been killed. | But it was not clear, he added, whether any Haqqani network fighters had been killed. |
| Elsewhere in North Waziristan, civilians took advantage of a break in curfew to flee the district, often amid frantic scenes, as the military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, an Urdu phrase for Strike of the Prophet’s Sword, entered its fifth day. | Elsewhere in North Waziristan, civilians took advantage of a break in curfew to flee the district, often amid frantic scenes, as the military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, an Urdu phrase for Strike of the Prophet’s Sword, entered its fifth day. |
| A senior government official told Agence France-Presse that about 30,000 people arrived in Bannu, a town just outside North Waziristan, on Wednesday alone, and that about 90,000 residents had left their homes since the first airstrikes last month. | A senior government official told Agence France-Presse that about 30,000 people arrived in Bannu, a town just outside North Waziristan, on Wednesday alone, and that about 90,000 residents had left their homes since the first airstrikes last month. |
| But Tariq Hayat Khan, a federal government official charged with coordinating assistance to refugees from North Waziristan, said that 67,000 people had registered for assistance so far. Many were reluctant to enter government-run camps, he added. | But Tariq Hayat Khan, a federal government official charged with coordinating assistance to refugees from North Waziristan, said that 67,000 people had registered for assistance so far. Many were reluctant to enter government-run camps, he added. |
| “Only the poorest of the poor would go to a camp in such hot and humid weather,” said Mr. Khan, who has served as a political agent in North Waziristan. | “Only the poorest of the poor would go to a camp in such hot and humid weather,” said Mr. Khan, who has served as a political agent in North Waziristan. |
| Tribal residents appeared to see the break in curfew on Wednesday as a sign that intensified fighting was approaching, and long traffic jams formed on roads leading into the adjoining settled areas. “Hundreds of vehicles are lining up,” said one resident of North Waziristan, speaking by telephone. “The process is too slow.” | Tribal residents appeared to see the break in curfew on Wednesday as a sign that intensified fighting was approaching, and long traffic jams formed on roads leading into the adjoining settled areas. “Hundreds of vehicles are lining up,” said one resident of North Waziristan, speaking by telephone. “The process is too slow.” |
| Some said the initial barrage of airstrikes had killed civilians as well as militants, though Pakistani officials reported only the deaths of militants. The last humanitarian crisis of such magnitude in northwestern Pakistan occurred in 2009, when the army mounted a major drive to flush the Taliban from the picturesque Swat Valley. Hundreds of thousands of people fled the valley for crowded refugee camps on the plains around Peshawar, or relatives’ homes. | Some said the initial barrage of airstrikes had killed civilians as well as militants, though Pakistani officials reported only the deaths of militants. The last humanitarian crisis of such magnitude in northwestern Pakistan occurred in 2009, when the army mounted a major drive to flush the Taliban from the picturesque Swat Valley. Hundreds of thousands of people fled the valley for crowded refugee camps on the plains around Peshawar, or relatives’ homes. |
| But while that operation was a short-term military success, the army failed to capture the local Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah, who last year become the leader of the overall Taliban organization in Pakistan. | But while that operation was a short-term military success, the army failed to capture the local Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah, who last year become the leader of the overall Taliban organization in Pakistan. |
| One major difference this time is that the army operation will take place along with the American drone campaign, although it is unclear how much, if any, cooperation exists between American and Pakistani officials. | One major difference this time is that the army operation will take place along with the American drone campaign, although it is unclear how much, if any, cooperation exists between American and Pakistani officials. |
| In the past, the two countries have clashed sharply over North Waziristan. | In the past, the two countries have clashed sharply over North Waziristan. |
| Americans have accused the Pakistanis of having an uncomfortably close relationship with the Haqqani network, which is seen as a proxy for Pakistani interests in Afghanistan. | Americans have accused the Pakistanis of having an uncomfortably close relationship with the Haqqani network, which is seen as a proxy for Pakistani interests in Afghanistan. |
| In an apparent reference to worries that the current army operation will avoid Haqqani forces, the Pakistani army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, has insisted that all militant sanctuaries will be attacked “without discrimination.” | In an apparent reference to worries that the current army operation will avoid Haqqani forces, the Pakistani army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, has insisted that all militant sanctuaries will be attacked “without discrimination.” |
| In any event, overt cooperation over the drone campaign was seen as unlikely. After the latest strikes the Pakistani Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning what it called a violation of the country’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.” | In any event, overt cooperation over the drone campaign was seen as unlikely. After the latest strikes the Pakistani Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning what it called a violation of the country’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.” |
| In private, though, some Pakistani officials have said that the resumed American drone campaign enjoys a strong degree of Pakistani military cooperation. (The Central Intelligence Agency has never publicly acknowledged any drone attacks in Pakistan, though at least 385 have occurred since 2004 according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which monitors the strikes.) | In private, though, some Pakistani officials have said that the resumed American drone campaign enjoys a strong degree of Pakistani military cooperation. (The Central Intelligence Agency has never publicly acknowledged any drone attacks in Pakistan, though at least 385 have occurred since 2004 according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which monitors the strikes.) |
| In the rest of Pakistan, the gathering momentum of the Waziristan operation has created an air of trepidation, with security officials bracing for possible violent reprisals in major cities. | In the rest of Pakistan, the gathering momentum of the Waziristan operation has created an air of trepidation, with security officials bracing for possible violent reprisals in major cities. |