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Airstrikes targeting Pakistan Taliban continue in response to school massacre Airstrikes targeting Pakistan Taliban continue in response to school massacre
(about 2 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — More Pakistan Taliban fighters and commanders were killed on Saturday as government forces continued to pound terrorist strongholds and local officials reported another U.S. drone strike targeting Islamist militants.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — More Pakistan Taliban fighters and commanders were killed on Saturday as government forces continued to pound terrorist strongholds and local officials reported another U.S. drone strike targeting Islamist militants.
Tribal leaders in northwestern Pakistan said a U.S. drone fired several missiles into a compound early Saturday in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel district, which is located near the Afghan border. At least five militants were killed, including key regional commanders, officials said.Tribal leaders in northwestern Pakistan said a U.S. drone fired several missiles into a compound early Saturday in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel district, which is located near the Afghan border. At least five militants were killed, including key regional commanders, officials said.
But there was no confirmation from American officials; some reported U.S drone strikes are actually carried out by Pakistani fighter jets.But there was no confirmation from American officials; some reported U.S drone strikes are actually carried out by Pakistani fighter jets.
On Friday, however, the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan acknowledged that it had carried a drone strike in Nangahar province, near the country’s border with Pakistan. The area is where many Pakistani Taliban leaders, including chief commander Maulana Fazlullah, are thought to reside.On Friday, however, the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan acknowledged that it had carried a drone strike in Nangahar province, near the country’s border with Pakistan. The area is where many Pakistani Taliban leaders, including chief commander Maulana Fazlullah, are thought to reside.
The attacks show how Pakistani security officials appear to be working with Afghanistan’s military and U.S.-led coalition forces to aggressively respond to Tuesday’s school massacre in Peshawar, which killed 148 teachers and students. The attacks show how Pakistani security officials appear to be working with Afghanistan’s military and U.S.-led coalition forces to aggressively respond to Tuesday’s school massacre in Peshawar, which left 148 teachers and students dead.
Sartaj Aziz, the national security adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, told reporter that Pakistan and Afghan forces have agreed to conduct “coordinated operations on both sides of the border.” Sartaj Aziz, the national security adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, told reporters that Pakistan and Afghan forces have agreed to conduct “coordinated operations on both sides of the border.”
“They will supplement each others’ operations by blocking the border during operations from one side so that anyone trying to escape could be arrested,” Aziz said.“They will supplement each others’ operations by blocking the border during operations from one side so that anyone trying to escape could be arrested,” Aziz said.
On Friday, a Pakistan army spokesman said recent air and ground operations had killed at least 119 terrorists. That toll continued to rise on Saturday.On Friday, a Pakistan army spokesman said recent air and ground operations had killed at least 119 terrorists. That toll continued to rise on Saturday.
During an “intelligence-based operation” Saturday morning, the Pakistani army said it killed five militants, including a key commander, on the outskirts of Peshawar. In a separate battle near Peshawar, two militants, a police officer and paramilitary soldier were killed in a firefight, Pakistan’s DAWN newspaper reported.During an “intelligence-based operation” Saturday morning, the Pakistani army said it killed five militants, including a key commander, on the outskirts of Peshawar. In a separate battle near Peshawar, two militants, a police officer and paramilitary soldier were killed in a firefight, Pakistan’s DAWN newspaper reported.
The expanding military operation symbolizes the broader outrage across Pakistan in wake of the killings at the school.The expanding military operation symbolizes the broader outrage across Pakistan in wake of the killings at the school.
In a sign of that anger, the government in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which includes Peshawar, decided on Friday it will push to expel all Afghan refugees living there within a month.In a sign of that anger, the government in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which includes Peshawar, decided on Friday it will push to expel all Afghan refugees living there within a month.
Hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled to refugee camps in that province during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1980s and that country’s civil war in the 1990s. But many Pakistanis believe those refugee camps have become havens for terrorists.Hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled to refugee camps in that province during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1980s and that country’s civil war in the 1990s. But many Pakistanis believe those refugee camps have become havens for terrorists.
“If presidential elections can be held in Afghanistan, its citizens in Pakistan can also go back home,” Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, the provincial Information Minister, told Pakistan’s Express-Tribune newspaper.“If presidential elections can be held in Afghanistan, its citizens in Pakistan can also go back home,” Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, the provincial Information Minister, told Pakistan’s Express-Tribune newspaper.
The Afghan military, meanwhile, also appears to be stepping up its operations against Taliban militants.The Afghan military, meanwhile, also appears to be stepping up its operations against Taliban militants.
After weeks of bloody attacks in Kabul, the Afghan Ministry of Defense said Saturday it had killed 141 Taliban fighters over the past two days. The Afghan Interior Ministry issued a separate statement saying police had also killed 18 Taliban fighters in recent clashes.After weeks of bloody attacks in Kabul, the Afghan Ministry of Defense said Saturday it had killed 141 Taliban fighters over the past two days. The Afghan Interior Ministry issued a separate statement saying police had also killed 18 Taliban fighters in recent clashes.
Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar and Mohammad Sharif in Kabul contributed to the report.Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar and Mohammad Sharif in Kabul contributed to the report.