This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30671107
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan Taliban: US drone 'kills militants' in tribal region | Pakistan Taliban: US drone 'kills militants' in tribal region |
| (4 months later) | |
| A US drone strike in Pakistan has killed at least six militants near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials say. | A US drone strike in Pakistan has killed at least six militants near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials say. |
| They say the strike in the tribal region of North Waziristan targeted the compound of a powerful Taliban leader. | They say the strike in the tribal region of North Waziristan targeted the compound of a powerful Taliban leader. |
| Pakistan stepped up its own operations against insurgents after Taliban militants killed 132 children at a school in Peshawar last month. | Pakistan stepped up its own operations against insurgents after Taliban militants killed 132 children at a school in Peshawar last month. |
| More than 1,700 rebels have been killed since the offensive began in June in North Waziristan, the military says. | More than 1,700 rebels have been killed since the offensive began in June in North Waziristan, the military says. |
| Sunday's strike reportedly targeted fighters supporting Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur. | Sunday's strike reportedly targeted fighters supporting Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur. |
| "A US drone fired two missiles which hit a compound and a vehicle in Alwara Mandi of North Waziristan... killing six terrorists," a senior security official told AFP news agency on Sunday. | "A US drone fired two missiles which hit a compound and a vehicle in Alwara Mandi of North Waziristan... killing six terrorists," a senior security official told AFP news agency on Sunday. |
| In a separate development, a bomb blast has killed at least five people at a volleyball match in the Orakzai tribal region. | In a separate development, a bomb blast has killed at least five people at a volleyball match in the Orakzai tribal region. |
| Police said the device had been planted in the grounds of the match. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and said the government was determined to eradicate terrorism. | Police said the device had been planted in the grounds of the match. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and said the government was determined to eradicate terrorism. |
| The drone strike followed Pakistani air raids on militant hideouts in Tirah Valley in the Khyber region on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. | The drone strike followed Pakistani air raids on militant hideouts in Tirah Valley in the Khyber region on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. |
| Pakistan's efforts to stamp out insurgent networks have focused on the North Waziristan and Khyber regions on the border with Afghanistan. | Pakistan's efforts to stamp out insurgent networks have focused on the North Waziristan and Khyber regions on the border with Afghanistan. |
| They have become strongholds of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) as well as the Haqqani network - a militant group with links to both the Taliban and al-Qaeda. | They have become strongholds of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) as well as the Haqqani network - a militant group with links to both the Taliban and al-Qaeda. |
| Unlike the TTP, which has fought inside Pakistan, Hafiz Gul Bahadur has focused on foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan. | Unlike the TTP, which has fought inside Pakistan, Hafiz Gul Bahadur has focused on foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan. |
| US drones strikes are extremely unpopular in Pakistan, with many condemning them as violation of their country's sovereignty. | US drones strikes are extremely unpopular in Pakistan, with many condemning them as violation of their country's sovereignty. |
| Washington agreed to suspend its drones programme in December 2013 to allow Islamabad to pursue peace talks with the TTP. | Washington agreed to suspend its drones programme in December 2013 to allow Islamabad to pursue peace talks with the TTP. |
| But attempts at a peace process ended in June following attack on the country's busiest airport in Karachi. The attack left at least 38 dead, including the attackers. | But attempts at a peace process ended in June following attack on the country's busiest airport in Karachi. The attack left at least 38 dead, including the attackers. |
| Who are the Pakistani Taliban? | Who are the Pakistani Taliban? |
| •With its roots in the Afghan Taliban, the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) movement came to the fore in 2007 by unleashing a wave of violence | |
| •Its leaders have traditionally been based in Pakistan's tribal areas but it is really a loose affiliation of militant groups, some based in areas like Punjab and even Karachi | |
| •The various Taliban groups have different attitudes to talks with the government - some analysts say this has led to divisions in the movement | |
| •Collectively they are responsible for the deaths of thousands of Pakistanis and have also co-ordinated assaults on numerous security targets | |
| •Two former TTP leaders, Baitullah Mehsud and Hakimullah Mehsud, as well as many senior commanders have been killed in US drone strikes |