US drone targets Haqqani network in N. Waziristan; kills 17

E-Paper | March 19, 2026

MIRAMSHAH: At least 17 people were killed and two others injured in a US drone attack which targeted a house in the North Waziristan tribal region late on Tuesday night.

Sources told Dawn.com that the drone fired four missiles on the house near Miramshah bazaar in Sirai Darpakhel area, targeting the Haqqani residential compound and a car. The head commander Haji Shahrifullah of Haqqani, a militant network, is said to be safe, whereas 17 people were killed and two others injured in the attack.

Intelligence sources confirmed the death toll.

US officials consider the Haqqani network to be one of the most dangerous militant factions fighting American troops in Afghanistan.

The leadership of the Haqqani network pledges allegiance to Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar but operates fairly independently.

The drone attack was the biggest launched this year and the second since Nawaz Sharif took office as prime minister following his victory in the May 11 elections.

Nawaz has called for an immediate end to US drone strikes on the grounds they breach of Pakistan's sovereignty.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Afghan registration, citizen cards no longer valid for stay in Pakistan: Peshawar High Court

14 districts declared ‘highly sensitive’ ahead of Eid in KP

100pc work from home in govt offices on Fridays in KP

pathanoo

Jul 03, 2013 07:35am

GOOD JOB. Go Get'em DRONES. Normal, decent Pakistanis will Thank You.

Recommend 0

Capt J

Jul 03, 2013 09:08am

Report says: "Intelligence sources confirmed the death toll, adding that a key militant leader had been targeted whose identity was not known as yet." Oh so they don't even know the name of the target !! Don't call it people were killed say like 17 vegetates were chopped.

Recommend 0

Capt J

Jul 03, 2013 09:06am

Recommend 0

Jul 03, 2013 09:56am

Pakistan is becoming the worst place to live in for Pakistanis. The worst, weak, and incompetent leaders for last 14 years have ruined this country. They can't even defend their own people. Shame!

Recommend 0

joekanuck

Jul 03, 2013 10:56am

It's ok...they were all militants. You can tell by the way they parked their cars or ate rice. You know those compounds, (otherwise known as houses), have to be blown up because mean baddies are definitely in there, otherwise the USofA, defender of truth and goodness, wouldn't have killed them. It's easy to identify them from cameras on aircraft flying mere miles away...they probably could even read their passports. The US government has categorically stated that no innocent people have died in drone strikes so it must be true, right.

Recommend 0

Saleem A

Jul 03, 2013 11:24am

It is a shame. Where is PTI and PMLN and the promises they made? 18 people killed by a foriegn country AGAIN and they don't even know WHO they targeted or who died! I can't understand how can someone support these illegal drone strikes!

Recommend 0

Sajjad Khan

Jul 03, 2013 11:33am

That is good news to help get rid of this menace to mankind,which is also a curse of GOD.The US should step up these attacks to make them run.

Recommend 0

Paki

Jul 03, 2013 11:34am

I want to know where are all these politicians especially PTI and PNL-N , they all made us believe, that casting vote to them will end these drones strikes and terrorism. now they are just wasting in assemblies like PPP did, waiting for their duration to end.

Recommend 0

Rajat

Jul 03, 2013 12:15pm

very happy start to the day. atleast US is helping Pakistan to wipe off terrorism. Pakistan is doing nothing to remove these jihadi terrorists. India needs a stable Pakistan to ensure its progress. US is doing good work. Hats off to political leaders in Pak who allow these programs.

Recommend 0

Iqbal

Jul 03, 2013 12:27pm

and they were all high-value targets selected after careful deliberation and painstaking process with unmatched precision and minimum or no collateral damage?

Recommend 0

AK BHalla

Jul 03, 2013 12:33pm

Ye cheez!

Recommend 0

muhammad yusuf

Jul 03, 2013 01:09pm

By killing innocents, USA again proves that the root cause of terrorism in pakistan is drone attacks. Stop killing the innocents!

Recommend 0

Bong

Jul 03, 2013 02:50pm

There we go again.....

Recommend 0

Gohar

Jul 03, 2013 03:20pm

I wonder if the US uses drones against crime syndicates and the David Koresh wannabees in mainland USA?

Recommend 0

dipayan

Jul 03, 2013 04:47pm

keep bringing the drones !!! save pakistan from these barbarics . Alla hu akbar

Recommend 0

khan

Jul 03, 2013 04:52pm

So this government proves to be as toothless as the previous. We waited years for deliverance and now have to wait another five because this government shows no seriousness in tackling the drone issue. I as a Pakistani demand that I be told the truth as to why we put up with drones. Are we paid to tolerate them? Are we bullied? Are we indifferent? What can we Pakistani's do to force a response from our government?

Recommend 0

shamed

Jul 03, 2013 04:59pm

i am ashamed that I voted for a government that is as full of lies as the previous two. What difference is there between the Chaudrys, the bhuttos or the Sharifs? I am constantly asking myself this question. Unfortunately, the last rays of hope I have for this country are fading away. Our armed forces, our nuclear status, our 180 million strong nation, our journalists, our judiciary and our prayers.......none of these are enough to give my fellow country men any self respect.

Recommend 0

shahid

Jul 03, 2013 04:58pm

For all thouse that expected miracles with the Sharif government, here is the second and final jolt to reality. There is no hope to be pinned with these leaders. They are different masks for the same shameless face. Was it not Chaudry Nisar that said that he would resign if drones would continue? Was it not Imran that said his NATO blockade would continue till the drones stopped? Was it not Nawaz Sharif that said there can be no drone strikes under his watch? can someone help me find these answers?

Recommend 0

akthar

Jul 03, 2013 05:07pm

Nawaz Sharif sb, where are your promised responses to drone? Had it been any other country, the leadership would ave rushed back from their useless foreign trip to take action against the invasion. Pakistan, the nuclear armed state that spends billions on armed forces rather than education and health, is not any different to Yemen and Syria. Can we ever expect a drone attack on North Korea? on India? on Iran? Are they stronger countries? or are they just just countries where leaders walk and talk the same line?

Recommend 0

akthar

Jul 03, 2013 05:04pm

sad that i voted for a government that is no differnent to our past governments let us all let go of the naya pakistan dream

Recommend 0

bauke

Jul 03, 2013 05:37pm

Nawaz has called and called and called, he is still calling and calling and calling, Obama is deaf and the president of Pakistan cannot write, cannot write; he is illiterate in solidarity with his people

Recommend 0

Lakhkar Khan, Pekhawar dhe khkulo khar

Jul 03, 2013 06:44pm

Only 17? That is a poor shot. Hope get good at it.

Recommend 0

Bong

Jul 03, 2013 06:44pm

Who were the people killed ? Terrorists or common civilians? Does it matter - Yes it does. It means the intelligence gathered by CIA in Pakistan is better than that of ISI.

Recommend 0

Imtiaz Hydari

Jul 03, 2013 07:58pm

Where are those who took oath to defend Pakistan?

Recommend 0

abbasi

Jul 03, 2013 08:10pm

@Rajat: bro thanks foe ur complement but i think u should mind with ur own business.we know what is good and what is bad.and second india has moist on its backyard i think america should use drone their too as indian govt looks helpless

Recommend 0

Imtiaz Hydari

Jul 03, 2013 08:10pm

Shame on those who took oath to defend our people from foreign aggression! unacceptable that Pakistan should be treated like a banana republic by the USA

Recommend 0

Jul 03, 2013 08:21pm

@Capt J: Very well said

Recommend 0

Murtaza

Jul 03, 2013 09:21pm

@muhammad yusuf: You consider Taliban as innocent... The people who are killing innocent Pakistanis are innocent? If you don't mend your fences someone else will do it. The sooner Pakistan realizes that the sooner drone strikes will end. Otherwise America is not going to listen to a country that is always begging for more.

Recommend 0

El Cid

Jul 03, 2013 10:09pm

@Sajjad Khan: *

Recommend 0

Usad

Jul 03, 2013 11:53pm

@Gohar : The drone technology was not available - US did use force to burn down the compound.

Recommend 0

Neptune Srimal

Jul 04, 2013 12:40am

@muhammad yusuf: who told you these guys are innocent? And when these so called "innocent" guys explode car bombs in mosques or in the middle of a bazaar? Don't they deserve at least this much punishment?

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Jul 04, 2013 12:45am

@Rajat: Should US help India to remove Moists?

Recommend 0

Samad Khan

Jul 04, 2013 12:29pm

if drone attacks against Pakistan sovereignty, than there are thousands of terrorists from all over the world in Pakistan, why these terrorists are not against Pakistan sovereignty?

Recommend 0

Branded Content

FaisalTown Group and Alfalah Investments forge strategic partnership for REIT-based villa development at Faisal Hills

The collaboration will advance healthcare, infrastructure advisory, and the development of 100 premium villas through an innovative REIT investment structure.