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| Drone Strike Reported Outside Pakistan’s Tribal Region | Drone Strike Reported Outside Pakistan’s Tribal Region |
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| PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Missiles believed to have been fired by an American drone struck an Islamic seminary in the northeastern Hangu district here Thursday morning, the first strike of its kind outside Pakistan’s volatile tribal regions. The attack killed five people and wounded several more, a senior district police officer said. | |
| The attack came as Pakistani officials have intensified criticism of American drone attacks, particularly after a strike killed Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, at the beginning of this month. | The attack came as Pakistani officials have intensified criticism of American drone attacks, particularly after a strike killed Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, at the beginning of this month. |
| In the latest attack, the drone fired missiles into the seminary around 4:30 a.m. near the border with Afghanistan, Iftikhar Ahmad, a local police officer, said in a telephone interview. | In the latest attack, the drone fired missiles into the seminary around 4:30 a.m. near the border with Afghanistan, Iftikhar Ahmad, a local police officer, said in a telephone interview. |
| A senior government official in Peshawar said the seminary belonged to Qari Noor Mohammad, who was affiliated with the Haqqani terrorism network. | A senior government official in Peshawar said the seminary belonged to Qari Noor Mohammad, who was affiliated with the Haqqani terrorism network. |
| “We don’t know the identity of those killed in the strike, but what we do know for now is that the seminary had links with the Haqqani network,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. | “We don’t know the identity of those killed in the strike, but what we do know for now is that the seminary had links with the Haqqani network,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. |
| A security official said that four prominent Pakistani militant commanders were among those killed. The two others killed in the strike were students at the seminary situated in a small Afghan refugee camp in Tandora. | A security official said that four prominent Pakistani militant commanders were among those killed. The two others killed in the strike were students at the seminary situated in a small Afghan refugee camp in Tandora. |
| Local officials said that drones had been flying over the area since Monday. | Local officials said that drones had been flying over the area since Monday. |
| “All those killed are Pakistani militant commanders,” the security official said, requesting that he not be named because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. | “All those killed are Pakistani militant commanders,” the security official said, requesting that he not be named because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. |
| The drone strike occurred a day after Sartaj Aziz, the national security adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, told a Senate foreign affairs committee in Islamabad that the United States had assured Pakistan that it would halt such strikes during negotiations with Pakistani militants. | The drone strike occurred a day after Sartaj Aziz, the national security adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, told a Senate foreign affairs committee in Islamabad that the United States had assured Pakistan that it would halt such strikes during negotiations with Pakistani militants. |
| Mr. Aziz did not give any time frame as to when the proposed peace talks with Pakistani militants in the tribal region would begin. Earlier talks came to an abrupt halt following the strike that killed Mr. Mehsud. | Mr. Aziz did not give any time frame as to when the proposed peace talks with Pakistani militants in the tribal region would begin. Earlier talks came to an abrupt halt following the strike that killed Mr. Mehsud. |
| The Tehreek-e-Insaf opposition party, which rules this northwestern province, and its right-wing coalition partner, Jamaat-e-Islami, have already called for a protest Saturday to put pressure on Mr. Sharif to halt NATO supplies to get the United States to stop drone strikes. | The Tehreek-e-Insaf opposition party, which rules this northwestern province, and its right-wing coalition partner, Jamaat-e-Islami, have already called for a protest Saturday to put pressure on Mr. Sharif to halt NATO supplies to get the United States to stop drone strikes. |
| Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday afternoon, Imran Khan, the former cricket star whose party governs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, sharply criticized both the United States and the Pakistani government. | Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday afternoon, Imran Khan, the former cricket star whose party governs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, sharply criticized both the United States and the Pakistani government. |
| Mr. Khan said his political party would stage a mass protest rally in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, against continuing American drone strikes and reiterated his vow to block NATO supplies. “I urge all people to gather in Peshawar on Saturday and show that we are honorable people,” he said. | Mr. Khan said his political party would stage a mass protest rally in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, against continuing American drone strikes and reiterated his vow to block NATO supplies. “I urge all people to gather in Peshawar on Saturday and show that we are honorable people,” he said. |
| Mr. Khan accused Mr. Sharif’s government of duplicity and failing to persuade the Americans to halt drone strikes. “The government says one thing to the Americans and another to its own people,” Mr. Khan said. | Mr. Khan accused Mr. Sharif’s government of duplicity and failing to persuade the Americans to halt drone strikes. “The government says one thing to the Americans and another to its own people,” Mr. Khan said. |
Ismail Khan reported from Peshawar, Pakistan, and Salman Masood from Islamabad. | Ismail Khan reported from Peshawar, Pakistan, and Salman Masood from Islamabad. |