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Drone Strike Reported Outside Pakistan’s Tribal Region Drone Strike Reported Outside Pakistan’s Tribal Region
(about 1 hour later)
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. PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Missiles believed to have been fired by an American drone struck an Islamic seminary in the northeastern Hangu district on Thursday, the first strike of its kind outside Pakistan’s volatile tribal regions. The attack killed six people and wounded five, according to a senior Pakistani security official.
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 and politicians from across the political spectrum have intensified criticism of the American drone attacks, particularly after a strike killed Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, on Nov. 1.
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 at 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. “The bodies have been mutilated and burned beyond recognition,” he said. “We are investigating the matter.”
“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 senior government official in Peshawar said the seminary belonged to Qari Noor Mohammad, who was affiliated with the militant Haqqani network.
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. “The seminary had links with the Haqqani network,” the official said on the condition of anonymity.
The Haqqani network, which operates on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, is believed to be one of the most lethal elements of the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. Earlier this month, unidentified gunmen killed Nasiruddin Haqqani, a son of the group’s founder, the Afghan warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani, in an Islamabad suburb.
Another security official said that four of those killed were Afghan militants belonging to the Haqqani network. The two others killed in the strike were students at the seminary, which was 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. “Four Afghan militant commanders were killed in the attack,” 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. Among those killed was Ahmad Jan, a senior Haqqani network leader who also looked after finances for the group, the security official said.
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 drone strike Thursday happened 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 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. 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 broke off following the strike that killed Mr. Mehsud.
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. The Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, which rules governs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province in a coalition with a rightist partner, Jamaat-e-Islami, had already called for a protest Saturday to pressure Mr. Sharif to halt NATO supplies destined for Afghanistan to get the United States to stop drone strikes.
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. Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday afternoon, Imran Khan, the former cricket star and politician, sharply criticized both the United States and the Pakistani government.
Mr. Khan said his political party would stage a mass protest in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, against 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. Salman Masood and Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud contributed reporting from Islamabad.