At Least 5 Killed in US Drone Strike in Pakistan

At least five people have been killed in Pakistan in a US assassination drone attack that targeted a compound in North Waziristan tribal region, security officials say.

The attack took place in Hurmuz area, Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan tribal region, in the early hours of Wednesday. 

"Several US drones flew into the area before dawn and fired four missiles on a compound, killing five militants," a security official told AFP after the strike. 

Another security official in the northwestern city of Peshawar also confirmed the attack and the casualties. 

In late September, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly said that US assassination drone strikes are counter-productive and asked Washington to end the strikes on the country’s tribal areas.

Pakistani tribal regions are the target of US terror drones, with Washington claiming that its unmanned aircraft are targeting militants. However, casualty figures clearly indicate that Pakistani civilians are the main victims of the assaults. 

The killing of Pakistani civilians, including women and children, in the strikes has strained relations between Islamabad and Washington, prompting Pakistani officials to send warnings to the US administration over the assaults. 

Despite Pakistani government’s repeated calls on Washington to end the drone attacks, the US government continues its strikes on the tribal regions of the country. 

The aerial attacks were initiated by former US President George W. Bush, but have escalated under President Barack Obama. 

The drone strikes have triggered massive anti-US demonstrations across Pakistan to condemn the United States’ violations of their national sovereignty. 

NT/AS