US drone attack kills 8 in Pak tribal belt

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Apr 19 (PTI) At least eight people were killed
and several others injured Sunday when a US drone fired two
missiles at a home in Pakistan's troubled South Waziristan
tribal region, the stronghold of local Taliban chief Baitullah
Mehsud, near the Afghan border.

The incident occurred in Gangikhel area near Wana, the
main town in South Waziristan tribal agency this morning,
officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels.

Local residents said they had seen two drones flying
over the area this morning and the home of a man belonging to
the Mehsud tribe was targeted in the missile attack.

Eight persons were killed in the attack and details about
them were not immediately available.

Waziristan is considered a stronghold of Tehrik-e-Taliban
Pakistan chief Mehsud. The Gangikhel area has witnessed
missile strikes by US drones in the recent past.

Pakistan has said it has differences with the US on the
missile strikes, which it has described as counter-productive
for the war on terror and a violation of its sovereignty.

Today's drone attack came a day after a suicide bomber
rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a police check post
killing 23 people, most of them security personnel, in some
other area in Pakistan's restive northwest.

The bomber targeted the check post in Hangu district,
which is surrounded by the troubled Aurakzai, Kurram and North
Waziristan tribal areas, in NWFP. PTI RHL
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