South Asia News
US missile strikes kill over 50 Taliban in Pakistan (2nd Roundup)
Jul 8, 2009, 17:07 GMT

A picture made available on 07 July 2009 shows United States soldiers patroling the site of a roadside bomb blast in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan on 06 July 2009. More than 50 people were killed Wednesday in two separate strikes by US pilotless aircraft on Taliban in Pakistan\'s ungoverned tribal region near Afghan border, security officials said. EPA/JAWED KARGAR
Islamabad - More than 50 people were killed Wednesday in two separate strikes by US pilotless aircraft on Taliban in Pakistan's ungoverned tribal region near Afghan border, security officials said.
Five missiles fired allegedly by a US drone targeted a motor convoy of Islamist insurgents in Sararogha area of South Waziristan, a safe haven of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters launching cross border attacks on US-led international forces in Afghanistan.
'More than 40 Taliban died in the deadly attack and around a dozen more were injured. The missile strike also destroyed five vehicles of Taliban,' said a local intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The attack came hours after US Predator drones targeted a hilltop militant hideout near the Karwan Manza village in the restive South Waziristan in a pre-dawn assault.
'Ten militants have been confirmed dead and another three wounded in the strike on the Taliban position,' another intelligence official said on condition of anonymity.
All those killed in the two attacks were fighters of the top Pakistani Taliban commander and al-Qaeda facilitator, Baitullah Mehsud.
Mehsud's people have suffered heavy losses and they are very angry. We are expecting some major retaliatory action from him in near future,' said the security official.
It was not immediately clear whether there were any foreign militants among the dead.
The US has carried out more than 40 drone strikes in Pakistan's north-western region this year, killing dozens of Taliban and al- Qaeda rebels.
Pakistan has protested the US drone attacks, saying they complicated its efforts against militancy by fuelling anti-American sentiment in the country.
But the country's own troops are preparing for a decisive offensive against Mehsud and his loyalists, who are blamed for nearly 90 per cent of terrorist attacks in the country in last two years.
Limited airstrikes have been carried out by Pakistani jets in recent weeks against Taliban defences, while ground troops have secured land routes ahead of the main onslaught.
Pakistan's army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told reporters on Wednesday that two soldiers died when a road side bomb went off near army convoy in Gomal Zam area of South Waziristan.
The action in South Waziristan is an extension of Pakistan's more than seven week long offensive against Taliban in Swat and three neighbouring districts of North Western Frontier Province (NWFP).
The government on Wednesday announced that the main objectives in Swat and Buner districts had been achieved, and a schedule for the return of some 1.9 million people displaced by the conflict would be announced in a couple of days.
'The Swat operation has been successfully completed,' Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters in Islamabad.
However, army spokesman Abbas said sporadic violence may continue for some time although the Taliban's organized resistance had come to an end.

COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in South Asia
- 1. Sri Lanka leftist party says leader, activist are abducted
- 2. US agrees to let Afghan forces take lead in night raids
- 3. India, Pakistan leaders want better ties
- 4. Pilot killed in crash of Bangladesh Air Force jet
- 5. Pakistani president visits India for lunch meeting, prayers
Older Talkback
page: 1
finally!!!...way to go gentlemen. hunt these bastards down and dont allow them to rest. 24/7 drones....and these taliban will be run ragged, scared of any noise from the sky......gods not willing....well except the single finger salute and crapping on the talibans parade.
No, no, no, no, no! You guys got it all wrong. Iraq is the mother of all evil.
They had tonnes of stockpiles of WMD and nukes. They created the Al qaeda, and were hiding osama bin laden and the 9/11 terrorist clan. That's why our war hero past president and commander in chief had the US go there to clean house. Pakistan has nothing to do with the war on terror.
Pakistan was our close friend. That's why the Bush admin gave the miltary dictator of Pakistan 10 billion dollars during his eight years in office. This aid was to protect their country from an unprovoked attack by India, and to make sure al qaeda and Taliban stayed in Iraq. Since then, the imposter in the 'dark' house has perverted everything regarding the once glorious war on terror that we had won. What more do you need to know?
Spot on child! Bush was correct to cozy up to the Paki's and the results are rollong in via enhanced body counts!. He got Iraq dealt with and handed it to Obama on a platter. Git er done!
Now, from the not-so White House, we have another steller example of 'Do Like Bush' and keep backing the Paki play i.e. cap-the-bitches and let them pretend to be insulted!
That on top of Obama rolling on warrantless taps, indefinite detention (!), rendition to foreign powers, gitmo-in-afghanistan, all just another example of the Bush doctrine being carried on by the Oreo cookie doctrine! The Obama bomb: leaves the rack and takes a hard right to the target, fooling everyone!
By the way spazz, go find out where all the antiwar sentiment went. I'm curious at how no one seems to mind the innocent casualties, the bodies, etc., anymore. Curious don't you think? I think it's liberal compassion, but that's just me...and the surv ivors of Waco. Now run along and get busy.
Don't worry bro, I been working just as hard as the past pres did on stuff, to come up with answers to your questions, even though any ol moron should know this already. Let's take Waco first, since it is the hardest topic to understand. It's all about states' rights vs the govmint and the biassed MSM. After receiving the label 'pseudo-christians, by the real christians down in Texass, it was of course within the rights of the Texass officials to call in the fed to help fry these heretics alive.
The libnazis don't care because they have bigger concerns. Like cry-babying that the sky is falling down, global warming will be the death of us, and homos should be fit enough to be president and serve in the military. So as usual, the lbnazis were alsleep at the wheel about Waco, while the genuine conservatives all across the nation rose up in arms about the alleged fed intervention. Us conservatives knew it was Texass state right to smoke out those infidels in Waco by themselves, just like it was a Texass state right to have slavery back when they wanted it.
Them crazy libnazis have been interferring with everything right in this country for a long time. That's why it is now the US of atheists, run by queers and darkies, and the communist oriented MSM.
Regarding the war on terror, it's so simple an idiot could tell you. Didn't you notice that the libnazi peaceniks and subversives stopped yapping when the glorious war on terror against the mother of all evil in Iraq first started. Shock and awe really worked. Our past, and perhaps last real president, worked hard to explain everything, using superb rhetoric and strategery. And then the libnazis fell into line to do their patriotic duty without complaining, or being brainwashed into supporting communist led anti-war demonstrations. Mission accomplished.
“A Muslim doesn’t look to peace, security, education, work, or the love of any other number of things as his ultimate goals,” al-Amriki said. “Instead, a Muslim is always working and striving to please the one true Creator.' recent message for the loony terrorist
hmmmm.......so muslims are allways at war...thrive on ignorance...lazy....and full of hate...that pretty well it sums up
page: 1


Dr.TemplarJul 8th, 2009 - 19:36:36
Nice shooting...move on to larger payloads or multiple munitions warheads!
Can you say ' BIG BLUE 82' ? I don't give a shirt if they like us and I don't want to win their hearts and minds...I WANT 'EM DEAD!!!!!!!!!
Report this comment