US drone strikes in Orakzai kill 16 suspected militants
A drone plane —Reuters Photo
PESHAWAR: A US drone attack killed 16 suspected militants and injured six others in the Orakzai agency of Pakistan’s tribal region on Thursday.
Four missiles were fired in the Buland Khel area of the Orakzai agency, which is close to the borders of the North and South Waziristan tribal regions in Fata.
“The attack was aimed at the compound of Maulana Shakirullah, who is the commander of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” officials said.
The militant wing run by Shakirullah has been linked with the Haqqani network and Al-Qaeda. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group has been repeatedly accused by the US for being involved in cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.
This was the second drone attack in Orakzai agency. The first came in 2009 in the Khadezai area of Mamozai in Upper Orakzai agency, in which 11 militants affiliated to TTP’s Hakimullah group were killed.
Sources told Dawn.com that the US drone fired two missiles on the headquarters of Shakirullah right at the border of Orakzai agency.
The strikes destroyed the compound and left 16 suspected militants dead.
When contacted, some security officials – however – said that the strike had been carried out on the North Waziristan side. Drones were still flying over the site of the attack and locals were reportedly staying away from the site.
The identities and nationalities of the militants killed in the strikes is yet to be ascertained.
Earlier in the day, eight people were killed and 20 were injured when a roadside-planted improvised explosive device exploded on Mushti Mela road in Orakzai agency’s Hasanzai Bazar area.
Each time TTP kills one of our citizen we need to kill 100 of them.
Is it not worth to ponder..how come centcom know of the militants whereabouts and not pak army MI.
Bravo for these drones, kill more if you can and help get rid of this menace once and for all! The whole Pakistani nation should be greatful to the U.S. for helping with this anti-terrorist jihad. They should be chased and killed until completely eliminated.
I wish those killed were the same murdering terrorist shot that 14 year old girl
“Innocent people killed”, would say Taliban Khan.
Drones Zindabad!!!
Taliban is the cancer and Drones is the cure.
Beautiful. I am all for it. Let’s demolish this whole cancer. Thank you President Obama.
Now that’s what you call Revenge for Malala. You don’t negotiate with these disgusting animals. You send them straight to hell. Keep them coming!
Where will Imran march to now?
These drones are counter productive, a report comes in every second day and they do not even know who got killed.
I am sure Pakistanis will not complain about this drone attack. I wonder why no muftis and Imams have not condemned the attack on that little girl.
That was the retaliation for the shooting the girl Malala by TTP. Well done US. We need more of those.
Pak media, please stop calling people killed in drone strikes as militants or suspected militants. Neither you nor US has any substantial proof to back up your statement. Don’t brain-wash people of my nation that all those killed are militants. Most of the people who are dying and have died are innocent PAKISTANIS. Its the duty of our government and the military to protect us from outside attacks, a task they clearly failing at. SHAME ON US, PAK GOVERNMENT AND PAK ARMY!!!
Pakistan govt should decide if tribal area should be part of Pakistan or it is independent. If Pakistan claims it part of Pakistan then what stop them to control the area and root out the criminals. US striks are illegal as many innocent civilians are killed but it is the last option left for rest of the world who look upon Pakistan to take care of its troubled areas.
Weapons in Pakistan is not new and need to be controls. It is only possible when police, judiciary and politicians are on same page and want to save the country. Please do it or it will be too late. Just look at India in neighbor and no matter what we say about them India is on road to development just because they have peace in courntry.
Good riddance
Thank you USA, from a Pakistani
Why are these drones not used to target Hakimullah and his gang (TTP) or fazullalah?
Where do you guys get this news ? Its certainly not a press release from the CIA. So obviously, the officials are Pakistani and have this information. Which gives credence to theory that drone strikes have the approval of Pakistani military and/or government.
You want names? Why don’t you go and check their ID cards and let all of us know.
this is a counterproductive exercise, just image a drone strike in Lahore or Islamabad, would you not want to know who got killed? exactly they same way people living in the tribal areas are Pakistanis. If drones are such precise weapon why dont the authorities tell who got killed.
You think USA will spend billions of dollars flying drones into Pakistan to kill some innocent farmers ?
what kind of military/governmen/civil society we have. as bad as TTP or whatever it may be, it needs to be controlled/curtaialed under rule of law, otherwise it is a law of jungle and we will see more Malala unfortunately. Drones is not the solution. military activisim has mostly backfired. we need a change of culture. this targetted killing contradicts all norms under Geneva Convention.
Why don’t you give some idea as how to control. This drone strike is in the name of Malala I love it.
Not until Pakistani government, politicians, military and security agencies not just disassociate themselves, but also build the courage to openly fight these terrorists, these drone attacks, will unfortunately continue. If you don’t have your own house in order, some outside party will come and do the job for you.
Now you are asking for a change of the culture. For decades you turned a blind eye, or occassionally cheered such radical Islamic activities (elsewhere), how do you turn off off a monster you helped create?
Change is culture??????? That might take a century, unfortunately.
Could you tell me what norms under the Geneva Convention were contradicted, or did you just make that up?
You Should be great full to Americans that they are the only ones who are hurting/killing these animals.Although US/ Pakistan created this cancer Pakistan is not doing its part. These animals can not hurt US as much as it can and are hurting Pakistan. So wake up Pakistan before it is too late.
Whta’s the solution? Negotiate with them? They will not stop until they bring you back to stone ages. These savages need to be eliminated. That is the only solution. If Pak military isn’t capable of doing it then let the US do it for you. They are doing you and world a big favor. Be Thankful
Can we have the names of those who got killed?
Why? do you know some one in TTP?
I can name many, that were killed in the past in drone attacks, Baitullah Meshud, and many Al Qadea guys. This was even acknowlegded by Al-Qaida and Taliban
TTP targeted by Obama. Kills 7. Wounds 16.
Good!
wipe TTP from Pakistan – long live drones and get used to it more and more everyday till this menace is not over. This is the only way I repeat only way the terrorist understand.