This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7917604.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Missiles 'kill seven' in Pakistan | Missiles 'kill seven' in Pakistan |
(30 minutes later) | |
Missiles said to have been fired by US unmanned aircraft have killed seven people close to Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, Pakistani sources say. | Missiles said to have been fired by US unmanned aircraft have killed seven people close to Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, Pakistani sources say. |
Two missiles reportedly struck a house in Sararogha, in South Waziristan, and the dead are believed to include suspected militants. | Two missiles reportedly struck a house in Sararogha, in South Waziristan, and the dead are believed to include suspected militants. |
The region is a stronghold of Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud. | The region is a stronghold of Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud. |
US drones have targeted the area with missiles before, in attacks criticised by Pakistani politicians. | US drones have targeted the area with missiles before, in attacks criticised by Pakistani politicians. |
Local people said Taleban militants had been operating from the house which was attacked. | Local people said Taleban militants had been operating from the house which was attacked. |
When asked about the attack, Adm Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would not talk about the specifics of US operations. | |
But, speaking to Fox News, he added that the military overall was "carrying out guidance from [US] President [Barack] Obama" in the region. | |
'Taleban sanctuary' | 'Taleban sanctuary' |
A villager, named by Reuters news agency as Hakeemullah, said that people were searching the rubble for more casualties. | A villager, named by Reuters news agency as Hakeemullah, said that people were searching the rubble for more casualties. |
"It was a Taleban sanctuary, which was destroyed in the attack," an unnamed Pakistani security official told AFP news agency. | "It was a Taleban sanctuary, which was destroyed in the attack," an unnamed Pakistani security official told AFP news agency. |
"Some foreigners were possibly among those killed." | "Some foreigners were possibly among those killed." |
At least four of the dead are believed to have been foreign militants, unnamed Pakistani officials told the Associated Press. | |
They added that drones were seen in the air ahead of the strike and Taleban fighters afterwards surrounded the damaged house which was allegedly a militant training facility. | |
Previous US missile attacks have been aimed at militant groups such as al-Qaeda, which have used the region as a base for attacks inside Afghanistan. | Previous US missile attacks have been aimed at militant groups such as al-Qaeda, which have used the region as a base for attacks inside Afghanistan. |
More than 20 such attacks have been carried out on targets in north-western Pakistan in recent months. | More than 20 such attacks have been carried out on targets in north-western Pakistan in recent months. |
The US and Pakistan have had serious disagreements over the Afghan border zone, with Washington unhappy at Pakistani efforts to tackle militants and Islamabad condemning the US drone attacks. | The US and Pakistan have had serious disagreements over the Afghan border zone, with Washington unhappy at Pakistani efforts to tackle militants and Islamabad condemning the US drone attacks. |
Pakistani leaders had expressed hope that the new US administration would halt the controversial air strikes, saying they fuelled public anger and complicated Pakistan's own counter-insurgency efforts. | Pakistani leaders had expressed hope that the new US administration would halt the controversial air strikes, saying they fuelled public anger and complicated Pakistan's own counter-insurgency efforts. |
But the drone attacks have continued since Mr Obama was inaugurated as US president in January. |