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Drone Strike Reported Outside Pakistan’s Tribal Region Drone Strikes a Seminary in Pakistan
(about 4 hours later)
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Missiles believed to have been fired by an American drone struck an Islamic seminary in northern Pakistan on Thursday, in a rare strike outside the country’s volatile tribal regions.PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Missiles believed to have been fired by an American drone struck an Islamic seminary in northern Pakistan on Thursday, in a rare strike outside the country’s volatile tribal regions.
The attack, in the Hangu District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, killed six people and wounded five, including several members of the Haqqani militant network, according to a senior Pakistani security official. The attack, in the Hangu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, killed six people and wounded five, including several members of the Haqqani militant network, according to a senior Pakistani security official.
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 on Nov. 1 killed Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, and disrupted the government’s plan to open peace negotiations with the militants.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 on Nov. 1 killed Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, and disrupted the government’s plan to open peace negotiations with the militants.
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. Local officials said that drones had been flying over the area since Monday. The drone fired missiles into the seminary, near the border with Afghanistan, around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, Iftikhar Ahmad, a local police officer, said in a telephone interview. Local officials said that drones had been flying over the area since Monday.
“The bodies have been mutilated and burned beyond recognition,” he said. “We are investigating the matter.”“The bodies have been mutilated and burned beyond recognition,” he said. “We are investigating the matter.”
A senior government official in Peshawar said the seminary belonged to Qari Noor Mohammad, who was affiliated with the militant Haqqani network. A senior government official in Peshawar said the seminary belonged to Qari Noor Mohammad, who was affiliated with the Haqqani network.
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 and one of its chief fund-raisers, in an Islamabad suburb. The network, which operates on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, is one of the most lethal groups of the Taliban insurgency. This month, unidentified gunmen killed Nasiruddin Haqqani, a son of the group’s founder and one of its chief fund-raisers, in Pakistan.
Another security official said that four of those killed were Afghan militants belonging to the Haqqani network, including Ahmad Jan, a senior Haqqani network leader who also looked after finances for the group. The two others killed in the strike were students at the seminary, which was in a small Afghan refugee camp in Tandora. Another security official said that four of those killed were Afghan militants belonging to the Haqqani network, including Ahmad Jan, a senior network leader who also looked after finances for the group. The two others killed in the strike were students at the seminary, which was in a small Afghan refugee camp in Tandora.
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 drone strike on 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.
Mr. Aziz did not give any time frame as to when the proposed peace talks with Pakistani militants in the tribal region might begin. Earlier talks broke off following the strike that killed Mr. Mehsud. Mr. Aziz did not give a time frame for when the proposed peace talks with militants in the tribal region might begin. Earlier talks broke off after the strike that killed Mr. Mehsud.
The Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, which governs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, 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. The Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, which governs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, had already called for a protest on Saturday to pressure Mr. Sharif to halt NATO supplies destined for Afghanistan 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 who leads the party, sharply criticized both the United States and the Pakistani government. Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Imran Khan, the former cricket star who leads the party, sharply criticized both the United States and the Pakistani government.
Mr. Khan said his party would stage a mass anti-drone protest in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 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 party would stage a mass protest against drones in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 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.

Ismail Khan reported from Peshawar. Salman Masood and Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud contributed reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Ismail Khan reported from Peshawar, Pakistan. Salman Masood and Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud contributed reporting from Islamabad.