First US drone strike in nearly two months kills four suspects

Jan 11, 2012, 7:17 GMT

Islamabad - A US drone attack killed four people Wednesday in north-western Pakistan, security officials said, ending a six-week pause meant to ease tense relations between the two countries.

An unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at a compound in Goora Qabristan area of North Waziristan, one of the seven tribal districts along the Afghan border where Taliban and al-Qaeda have sanctuaries.

'It was an early morning attack and four people have died,' said an intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'The compound caught fire following the missile attack.'

The official said the compound was a hideout of fighters from the group around Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a Taliban commander who has a peace deal with the Pakistani government.

It was the first attack since NATO forces targeted two Pakistani border posts, killing 24 soldiers, in November. The incident further undermined relations between Pakistan and the US.

In retaliation, Pakistan suspended the transport across its territory of supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan and forced the US to evacuate Shamsi airbase in south-western Pakistan from where the drone operations took place.

The US had stopped drone strikes, which are highly unpopular in Pakistan, after the November 26 border posts raid.

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