Officials and local residents said the suspected US drone crashed in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border. -Reuters File Photo

MIRAMSHAH A US drone crashed in Hamzoni area of North Waziristan on Sunday evening, but local tribesmen claimed to have shot down the pilotless aircraft.

According to the tribesmen, five drones were hovering over the area, about 10km west of Miramshah, and one of them flying at low altitude came down.

Drones usually fly low before attacking a target.

AP adds The tribesmen were congratulating each other for shooting down the drone, said Saudur Rehman, a resident.

Pakistan Army rejected similar claims after a drone crashed in South Waziristan in 2008, saying it was a technical problem.

“I saw that the aircraft was coming down and finally crashed in an open area a distance from me,” said Rehman, who indicated he heard gunfire just before the crash.

The crash occurred at around 6pm, said two officials.

The US does not discuss the drone strikes, but officials have said that they have killed senior Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders in the country.

Opinion

Editorial

Not cricket
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Not cricket

It is high time that the PCB sets things right; even if it demands a complete overhaul of the system.
Balochistan deadlock
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Balochistan deadlock

Akhtar Mengal’s demands to release women activists should seriously be considered.
Escalating brutality
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Escalating brutality

The world’s patience is running out. Israel must be held accountable under international law for war crimes.
Electricity relief
Updated 05 Apr, 2025

Electricity relief

If govt ensures that requisite power reforms are implemented, it will earn much praise for reforming a vital segment of the economy.
Trump’s trade wars
Updated 05 Apr, 2025

Trump’s trade wars

Shoddy math applied by US to indiscriminately penalise its trading partners signals the end of an era of global trade liberalisation.
Legalised land grab
Updated 05 Apr, 2025

Legalised land grab

The Modi government from its inception has been attacking India’s minorities, the largest such community in its crosshairs being the Muslims.