MIRANSHAH: A US drone strike yesterday killed seven militants in northwest Pakistan, the first since Nawaz Sharif was sworn in as prime minister this week calling for an end to such attacks, local officials said.
The missiles hit a compound in Shokhel village, more than 100 kilometres southwest of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal district which is known as a stronghold of Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked militants.
“The US drone fired two missiles targeting a militant compound and killing at least seven militants”, a senior local security official said.
Another official confirmed the strike and casualties but said the identities of those killed were not yet known.
The strike came just two days after Sharif was sworn in for a historic third time and asked the United States to end its campaign of drone attacks against militants.
“We respect the sovereignty of others and they should also respect our sovereignty and independence. This campaign should come to an end,” he said after lawmakers endorsed him as premier on Wednesday.
He had also publicly criticised the drone strike that killed Taliban deputy Waliur Rehman last week, echoing long-held Pakistani complaints that the US campaign violates national sovereignty.
Rehman, the number two in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction, died along with at least five others when a drone fired two missiles on a house in North Waziristan on May 29.
Rehman, who had a $5m US government bounty on his head, was killed after US President Barack Obama outlined new more restrictive guidelines on drone use.
In Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, at least three civilians were killed following a drone strike, according to local authorities.
Provincial governor Fazlullah Wahidi said the air strike was carried out on Wednesday night in a residential area in Manogi district. Wahidi added that at least three civilians, including two boys and a girl, were killed and six others including two women were injured.
Civilian casualties have been one of the controversial issues between the Afghan government and international security forces.
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