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Today's Paper | November 23, 2024

Updated 26 Dec, 2014 10:21pm

7 suspected militants killed in North Waziristan drone strikes

PESHAWAR: At least seven suspected militants, including three foreigners, were killed Friday in two separate drone strikes in North Waziristan Agency.

Intelligence sources said the first strike took place near the Kund area of Shawal in which the compound of Punjabi Taliban commander Qari Imran was targeted.

The strike left four militants dead but there was no confirmation as to whether Qari was killed in the attack.

The second strike took place in the Mangroti area of Shawal whereby a drone fired two missiles on a compound, leaving three suspected militants of Uzbek origin dead. The compound was also destroyed in the strike.

North Waziristan is among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with insurgents and are alleged to be strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, among others.

Pakistan's military in mid-June had launched an all-out operation, named 'Zarb-i-Azb', against Taliban militants in the region.

Drone attacks are widely unpopular across Pakistan and according to survey conducted in June this year, 66 per cent of the country's citizens oppose these strikes.

Take a look: Al Qaeda leader Umar Farooq killed in N Waziristan drone strike

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