US drones kill 14

Published March 14, 2012

Two suspected 'commanders' of the Taliban were killed in the strikes       — File Photo

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: US drone aircraft struck twice in northern and southern parts of Waziristan tribal regions on Tuesday, killing at least 14 suspec-ted militants, including two ‘commanders’, security and intelligence officials said.

In the first strike, a drone fired missiles at a vehicle in the Birmal area of South Waziristan, killing seven men.

Another seven suspected militants were killed in the second attack later in the day, when a drone fired missiles at a vehicle in the Sara Khawra area, which straddles the border between North Waziristan and South Waziristan.—Reuters

Our Correspondent in Ladha adds: The seven militants killed in the first attack belonged to the Mullah Nazir group.

Intelligence sources and local people identified four of the deceased as Hafeez Amir Hamza, Shamsulllah, Wajahat and Abdullah.

The bodies of three others were mutilated beyond recognition.

Hafeez Amir Hamza and Shamsullah were important commanders of the group.

Amir Hamza belonged to the five-member ‘Shura-i-Muraqba’ formed on Dec 31, last year, to sort out differences among militant groups and stop killing of local tribesmen by terming them ‘spies’.

Other members of the Shura are Maulvi Saddar Hayat, Maulvi Saeedullah, Maulvi Noor Sayed and Maulvi Azmatullah.

According to our correspondent in Tank, a woman and her child were injured when suspected Taliban militants fired four missiles in Kariwam area. One missile hit a school where people of Turkistan Battani tribe displaced from Sararogha area are living.

Another missile hit the house of one Zar Mohammad Battani, injuring his wife and daughter.

They were taken to a hospital in Jandola. Two missiles landed in open fields.

Local people blamed Taliban for the attack which they said was aimed against pro-government tribesmen of the Abdullah group.

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...