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Drone strikes north-west Pakistan | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
At least eight people have been killed in a suspected US drone attack in north-west Pakistan, Pakistani officials have said. | |
They said the attack targeted an area in the North Waziristan tribal area considered to be a militant stronghold. | They said the attack targeted an area in the North Waziristan tribal area considered to be a militant stronghold. |
Hundreds of militants and civilians have been killed in dozens of drone attacks in the past year. | Hundreds of militants and civilians have been killed in dozens of drone attacks in the past year. |
The strike came as the US Senate voted to triple aid to Pakistan to about $1.5bn (£930m) a year over five years. | The strike came as the US Senate voted to triple aid to Pakistan to about $1.5bn (£930m) a year over five years. |
The funding still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives. | The funding still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives. |
Thursday's drone attack came hours after seven pro-government tribal elders were killed by the Taliban in Pakistan's north-west. | Thursday's drone attack came hours after seven pro-government tribal elders were killed by the Taliban in Pakistan's north-west. |
One security official told AFP news agency that it targeted militants loyal to a militant group led by Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani. | One security official told AFP news agency that it targeted militants loyal to a militant group led by Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani. |
'Tremendous effort' | 'Tremendous effort' |
Pakistan has criticised drone attacks, saying they fuel support for the militants. | Pakistan has criticised drone attacks, saying they fuel support for the militants. |
One such attack in South Waziristan in early August killed Pakistan's top Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud. | One such attack in South Waziristan in early August killed Pakistan's top Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud. |
Most of the strikes have taken place in North and South Waziristan. | Most of the strikes have taken place in North and South Waziristan. |
The US military does not routinely confirm the attacks, but the American armed forces and CIA in Afghanistan are the only forces capable of deploying drones in the region, say analysts. | The US military does not routinely confirm the attacks, but the American armed forces and CIA in Afghanistan are the only forces capable of deploying drones in the region, say analysts. |
At a meeting in New York of major supporters of Pakistan on Thursday, US President Barack Obama said the US was "firmly committed to the future that the Pakistani people deserve". | At a meeting in New York of major supporters of Pakistan on Thursday, US President Barack Obama said the US was "firmly committed to the future that the Pakistani people deserve". |
The US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said the aid commitment approved by the Senate could help redress anti-American sentiment. | The US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said the aid commitment approved by the Senate could help redress anti-American sentiment. |
"We recognize that Pakistani public opinion on the United States is surprisingly low given the tremendous effort the United States is making to lead in the international coalition in support of Pakistan," Mr Holbrooke said. | "We recognize that Pakistani public opinion on the United States is surprisingly low given the tremendous effort the United States is making to lead in the international coalition in support of Pakistan," Mr Holbrooke said. |