Suspected US drone strikes kill 48 in Pakistan

Jul 12, 2011, 5:57 GMT

Islamabad - At least 48 alleged militants were killed and about one dozen injured in four suspected US drone attacks in north-western Pakistan's tribal belt along the Afghan border, local intelligence officials said Tuesday.

The first attack took place late Monday in North Waziristan, one of the seven tribal districts where Taliban and al-Qaeda have hideouts.

An intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that a US drone fired two missiles into a vehicle in the Datta Khel area, killing five people.

'Later the drone fired eight missiles into a compound in the same area,' the official said. 'The attack demolished the building and locals have pulled out 20 dead bodies and 10 injured people from the debris of the house.'

'All 10 injured are in critical condition, so we fear that the death toll might rise,' he added.

Early Tuesday, another airstrike took place in the adjoining district of South Waziristan.

'A US drone fired two missiles into a vehicle. Eight people died in the attack,' said a second intelligence official who also sought anonymity.

Unmanned drone aircraft also targeted a vehicle and compound in Drae Nishtar in North Waziristan.

'Eight to 10 drones took part in the attack. They fired two missiles on a vehicle and two more on a compound,' said another security official. 'According to initial information, 15 people have died in the strike.'

'Drones are still flying in the area and everyone there is scared,' said the official.

The intelligence officials said most of those killed were militants, but the claims could not be confirmed since the area remains mainly inaccessible for reporters and aid workers.

The US has intensified its air campaign in Pakistan since 2008 to eliminate insurgent hideouts in the tribal region.

The latest attacks came amid strained relations between Islamabad and Washington since the US commando raid that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the north-western city of Abbottabad on May 2.

Islamabad says the raid was unilateral and unauthorized, while Washington has questioned Pakistan's will to fight the insurgents.

Pakistan expelled more than 100 US and British military trainers recently, and the White House announced over the weekend that it was suspending military aid worth 800 million dollars.

The Express Tribune quoted Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhatr saying that Pakistan will withdraw its troops from near the Afghan border. The military has deployed about 150,000 soldiers to the region to check Taliban infiltration into Afghanistan.