FACTBOX-Security developments in Pakistan, June 11

June 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Following are security developments in Pakistan at 1100 GMT on Friday:

NORTH WAZIRISTAN – A U.S. drone fired three missiles into a Taliban compound in North Waziristan region near the Afghan border, killing 11 militants and wounding four, Pakistani officials said.

It was the second drone strike in the last 24 hours in the militants’ stronghold of North Waziristan. In an earlier attack, a drone killed three suspected militants. (Compiled by Islamabad Bureau; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)

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Five killed in fresh US drone strike in North Waziristan

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Miranshah (Pakistan), Apr 26(ANI): At least five suspected militants were killed and various others injured in a fresh US drone attack in the restive North Waziristan on Monday.

According to reports, unmanned Predator aircrafts fired three missiles at a house in Mir Ali area of Khush’hali Klay, killing four on the spot and injuring several others.

It is believed that at least four spy planes were hovering over the region and making low flights, The News reports.

US drone attacks routinely target Taliban and Al-Qaeda commanders in Pakistan’s lawless tribal regions along the Afghanistan border.

Although Pakistan publicly opposes the attacks, saying they violate its sovereignty and fuel anti-Americanism among the population, it is believed that it was sharing intelligence with the US about the insurgents and their hide-outs.

More than 830 people have been killed in more than 90 US strikes in Pakistan since August 2008, with a surge in the past year as President Barack Obama has put Pakistan at the heart of his fight against Al-Qaeda. (ANI)

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Five killed in fresh US drone strike in North Waziristan

April 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Miranshah (Pakistan), Apr 26(ANI): At least five suspected militants were killed and various others injured in a fresh US drone attack in the restive North Waziristan on Monday.

According to reports, unmanned Predator aircrafts fired three missiles at a house in Mir Ali area of Khush’hali Klay, killing four on the spot and injuring several others.

It is believed that at least four spy planes were hovering over the region and making low flights, The News reports.

US drone attacks routinely target Taliban and Al-Qaeda commanders in Pakistan’s lawless tribal regions along the Afghanistan border.

Although Pakistan publicly opposes the attacks, saying they violate its sovereignty and fuel anti-Americanism among the population, it is believed that it was sharing intelligence with the US about the insurgents and their hide-outs.

More than 830 people have been killed in more than 90 US strikes in Pakistan since August 2008, with a surge in the past year as President Barack Obama has put Pakistan at the heart of his fight against Al-Qaeda. (ANI)

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Six militants killed in US drone attack in North Waziristan

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Peshawar, Mar.31 (ANI): US drones continue to pound Pakistan’s ungoverned tribal regions, as six more militants were killed in missile hits in Tapi village of North Waziristan, security officials said.

Confirming the missile strike, a security official, who refused to be identified, said at least three missiles were fired from the pilot-less aircraft targeting a house owned by a local tribesman Zamir Khan.

The house was believed to be a militant hideout.

“A US drone attack targeted a compound owned by Zamir Khan, which was used by militants. Two missiles were fired,” The Dawn quoted the official, as saying.

The area where the drones struck is believed to be a stronghold of the Haqqani network, which continues to target US troops in Afghanistan.

Over 800 people have been killed in more than 90 US strikes in Pakistan since August 2008. The frequency of the missile hits have increased considerably since last December after a Jordanian Al-Qaeda double agent blew himself up near a CIA base killing seven top US officials in Afghanistan. (ANI)

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Eight killed in US drone strike in South Waziristan

August 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Aug.27 (ANI): At least eight people were killed and several others injured in a US drone strike South Waziristan’s Kani Goram area on Thursday.

According to sources, three missiles were fired from unmanned Predator aircrafts targeting a house in the region killing eight people on the spot besides injuring many others.

Kani Goram is considered to be a picnic spot and is situated near Ladha, where the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud is said to have been killed in a similar strike earlier this month.

More than 35 missile strikes have killed over 350 people since August 2008, fanning hostility against the United States and the government in Pakistan, where more than 1,700 people have died in extremist bombings in two years. (ANI)

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South Korea claims North has test-fired three more missiles

July 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Seoul (South Korea), July 4 (ANI): South Korea’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday that North Korea had test-fired three missiles, further stoking tensions in the international community, which continues to berate Pyongyang for its nuclear ambitions.

The firing of the missiles, reported to have a range of up to 500 kilometres (312 miles), follow a series of missile launches earlier this week by North Korea.

A spokesperson of the South Korean Defence Ministry claimed that the first two of the three missiles were launched between 8 and 8.30 a.m., while the third one was fired at 10:45 a.m. local time.

She said all three missiles were launched from the Kitdaeryong Base, near the eastern port of Wonsan, into the East Sea (Sea of Japan).

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the first two missiles were Scuds.

North Korea fired four short-range missiles on Thursday into the Sea of Japan but the range of those missiles was estimated to be only around 120 km.

Japan condemned the latest missile launches as a “serious act of provocation.”

“It is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including our country,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura was quoted by Jiji Press as saying.

The Japanese government’s top spokesman said the act was also against a UN Security Council resolution, according to Jiji.

North Korea has made a series of bellicose moves this year. It launched a long-range rocket on April 5 and followed it up with a nuclear test on May 25.

Thereafter, the country has fired a total of six short-range missiles, renounced the truce on the Korean peninsula that has been in place for for half a century and threatened to attack South Korea. (ANI)

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Six killed, several others injured in US drone attack in South Waziristan

June 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Peshawar, June 23 (ANI): With the Pakistan Army intensifying its operation in South Waziristan, primarily targeting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud, six people were killed and several others injured in yet another US drone strike in the region on Tuesday.

Un-manned US Predator aircrafts fired three missiles at a suspected terrorist hideout in the Ladha village, believed to be Mehsud’s stronghold.

ources said six persons were killed in the missile hit, and several others were injured.

However, no official confirmation about the attack, or the number of people dead came till reports last filtered in.

This was the third such drone strike in the region in less than a month.

Earlier, three persons were killed and several others were injured in a similar strike in South Waziristan’s Miranshah area.

US drones had fired several missiles at a suspected terrorist vehicle in the Laddha region, killing the three persons on the spot on June 14. (ANI)

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