ISLAMABAD, Aug 18:
Six members of a Taliban faction were killed in a US drone strike in the lawless North Waziristan tribal region today, an attack described by Pakistan Government as a violation of its sovereignty.
Two more persons were injured when the drone targeted a compound and a vehicle in Shawal area of North Waziristan, which has witnessed numerous drone strikes in the past few months.
The CIA-operated spy plane fired two missiles at a compound and the vehicle.
Officials told the media that the drone targeted a militant hideout where supporters of Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur had gathered. Some Uzbek militants were among the dead.
Bahadur’s fighters frequently target US and foreign troops in neighbouring Afghanistan.
The Pakistan Government strongly protested against drone attack.
“Pakistan has consistently maintained that these attacks are a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are in contravention of international law,” Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan said in a brief statement.
The US has been pushing Pakistan to act against Taliban and al-Qaeda elements in North Waziristan.
Earlier this week, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta claimed Pakistan was preparing an operation against the Taliban in North Waziristan.
Meanwhile, at least 17 people have been killed in a suicide attack targeting security forces and several other incidents of violence in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan and Sindh provinces, officials said today.
In Sharifabad area of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Frontier Corps check post, killing five people, including three soldiers.
“The paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers posted at the check post stopped a suspicious looking Toyota car for security check when it entered the city late Friday,” an FC spokesman, Ahmed Baig, said.
During questioning, the driver blew himself up, killing three soldiers and two officials of the military intelligence, he said.
There was no clue about the identity of the driver as he was blown into pieces.
Several persons were also injured by the powerful explosion.
Witnesses said the blast shook nearby buildings. (PTI)
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