At least a dozen militants including foreign fighters were killed Wednesday in a suspected US missile strike on two houses in northwestern Pakistan, a senior security official said. Two missiles apparently fired by a US drone aircraft demolished a house and a compound used by suspected Al-Qaeda militants in Bajaur tribal region near the border with Afghanistan, the official, who declined to be identified, told AFP. "We have reports that the missile strike killed at least 12 militants including some foreigners," the official said.| No word yet on the baby duck count, but it'll probably be out soon enough... |
Separately, chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told AFP that the army was unaware of any missile strike in the region. "We have no information about the strike," he said, adding the army was not in the area.
| "Nobody told us..." |
The attack on Wednesday came as NATO urged Pakistan to improve security on its border with Afghanistan following a rise in cross-border attacks by Taliban fighters and Al-Qaeda militants. "The number of attacks is up significantly from the same period last year," the alliance's chief spokesman James Appathurai said in Brussels. "There is not enough effectiveness in border control on Pakistan's side. The concerns have been communicated to Pakistan."
Pakistan this week moved its troops away from villages and towns in a volatile tribal region bordering Afghanistan as a peace process moves forward, officials said Wednesday. As part of the process, more than 30 tribesmen held in various prisons were freed Tuesday in return for the release of a dozen soldiers detained by pro-Taliban militants, a security official said.
The new government in North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan, which replaced the pro-Taliban Islamist administration after February elections, has launched peace talks with the militants led by Al-Qaeda-linked Pakistani warlord Baitullah Mehsud, local officials said. "Talks are being held behind closed doors," a senior government official told AFP. "Some progress has been made," he said but did not elaborate. It was not clear what impact Wednesday's missile strikes would have on those talks.
The United States has expressed concern about any peace deal between Pakistan and militant fighters. Pakistan's military said troop positions across the restive region were being "readjusted," with soldiers being moved away from towns and villages. The moves were mainly to facilitate the return of people who had fled the area due to previous unrest, the military said.
More, from Daily Times...
At least a dozen militants, including foreign fighters, were killed on Wednesday in a suspected United States missile strike on two houses in the Damadola area of Bajaur Agency, a senior security official said. Two missiles, apparently fired by a US drone aircraft, demolished a house and a compound used by suspected Al Qaeda militants, the official, requesting anonymity, told AFP. Two large blasts were heard around 8pm. Residents said they saw drones flying in the area beforehand, AP reported. They said that Taliban militants cordoned off the site soon after the attack.
Taliban spokesman Maulvi Omar told Daily Times by phone that Taliban commander Maulvi ObaidullahÂ’s house had been targeted. He said most of the houseÂ’s residents, including women and children, were killed.
| Toldja the baby duck count would come quick enough... |