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Suspected US missile strike kills 6 in Pakistan

Suspected US missile strike kills 6 in Pakistan

Posted: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 9:16 pm
By: AP

  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — A missile strike by a suspected U.S. drone killed at least six people in a Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border, two Pakistani intelligence officials said today.

American forces recently ramped up cross-border operations against Taliban and al-Qaida militants in Pakistan’s wild border zone, a possible hiding place for Osama bin Laden.

The attacks have drawn stiff protests from Islamabad, an uneasy ally in Washington’s seven-year war on terror, particularly since an highly unusual Sept. 3 raid by U.S. ground troops in the South Waziristan region.

The two intelligence officials said the missiles struck the home of a local Taliban commander before midnight Tuesday near Mir Ali, a town in the North Waziristan region.

The officials, citing reports from their field agents, said six people were killed in the attack. Both officials asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.

They said a U.S. drone aircraft — not Pakistani forces — fired the missiles.

They did not identify any of the victims.

Pakistani leaders insist only their forces are allowed to carry out operations inside Pakistan, and its troops recently fired warning shots at U.S. helicopters flying over the ill-marked frontier.
Published in The Messenger 10.01.08