US drone strike kills 20 in N Waziristan

The Daily Times, Pakistan, Wednesday, November 17, 2010

MIR ALI:

Suspected American missiles slammed into a home and a speeding vehicle in North Waziristan on Tuesday, killing 20 Pakistanis, alleged as militants, as the US ramps up unmanned drone strikes, officials said.

The US has launched 100 such strikes in Pakistan so far this year, a major surge over previous years for the drone programme that is rarely officially acknowledged by Washington.

Nearly all have hit in North Waziristan, where Taliban fighters (referred to by the pro-NATO Daily Times as "extremists") run a virtual mini-state outside the government’s control.

At least four missiles were fired before dawn in Bangi Dar village, two at the mud-brick house and two at the vehicle, two intelligence officials said.

Four of the slain were in the vehicle, while at least 11 died in the flattened home.

A different pair of security officials closer to the scene said later that at least 20 were killed. All spoke on condition of anonymity in line with official policy. ap

U.S. missile strike kills 20 people in Pakistan

Tuesday, November 16 06:23 am

Unmanned U.S. drone aircraft on Tuesday fired four missiles into North Waziristan, killing at least 20 Pakistanis (referred to by pro-NATO Reuters as "insurgents" or "militants"), local officials said.

The missiles struck a fortress-like compound and a vehicle in Ghulam Khan village on the Afghan border early in the morning.

"Some of the militants were on foot. They had just returned from Afghanistan when they were hit," an intelligence official in the region said.

"So far, the death toll is 20."

There was no independent confirmation of the incident as the war zone is located in a remote part of Pakistan. Militant groups often dispute officials' account of such attacks and casualties.

North Waziristan is the main base of Afghan militants fighting Western forces across the border. The United States has stepped up missile strikes there in recent months as it struggles to stabilise war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The United States has long demanded Pakistan launch a military offensive in North Waziristan, but Islamabad is reluctant to do so, and says it needs to consolidate gains made in earlier offensives before opening a new front.

But critics says Pakistan's reluctance stems from its desire to use the Afghan Taliban as bargaining chips in a final settlement with Kabul once foreign forces leave.

(Writing by Zeeshan Haider; Editing by Chris Allbritton and Sanjeev Miglani)