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| As Pakistan considers counter-terrorism strategy, more airstrikes kill militants | As Pakistan considers counter-terrorism strategy, more airstrikes kill militants |
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| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Two suspected U.S. drone strikes in northwestern Pakistan killed at least eight militants on Friday, and Pakistani forces also killed a Taliban commander who helped carry out last week’s school massacre in Peshawar. | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Two suspected U.S. drone strikes in northwestern Pakistan killed at least eight militants on Friday, and Pakistani forces also killed a Taliban commander who helped carry out last week’s school massacre in Peshawar. |
| According to Pakistani intelligence officials, a U.S. drone fired two missiles into a compound in North Waziristan used by militants from the Punjabi Taliban. The group is an offshoot of the Pakistan Taliban and has been known to carry out attacks in Pakistan as well as in neighboring Afghanistan. | According to Pakistani intelligence officials, a U.S. drone fired two missiles into a compound in North Waziristan used by militants from the Punjabi Taliban. The group is an offshoot of the Pakistan Taliban and has been known to carry out attacks in Pakistan as well as in neighboring Afghanistan. |
| The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said five militants were killed in the attack. | The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said five militants were killed in the attack. |
| The second drone strike, which also occurred in North Waziristan, killed three militants affiliated with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The group has close ties to al Qaeda. | The second drone strike, which also occurred in North Waziristan, killed three militants affiliated with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The group has close ties to al Qaeda. |
| U.S. officials did not immediately confirm the strikes. But in recent days, there has been growing indication that the American drone campaign along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is accelerating. | U.S. officials did not immediately confirm the strikes. But in recent days, there has been growing indication that the American drone campaign along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is accelerating. |
| Last week, after the Pakistan Taliban killed 149 students and teachers in school massacre, there were two suspected U.S. drone strikes in the border region. | Last week, after the Pakistan Taliban killed 149 students and teachers in school massacre, there were two suspected U.S. drone strikes in the border region. |
| On Tuesday, Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, and Sher Muhammad Karimi, leader of Afghanistan’s army, traveled to Islamabad to meet with Pakistani Army Chief Raheel Sharif to discuss ways to better coordinate offensive operations against militants. | |
| Over the past week, Pakistani military officials say they have killed more than 150 suspected terrorists. | Over the past week, Pakistani military officials say they have killed more than 150 suspected terrorists. |
| In a clash with security forces late Thursday in Kyber Agency, a top militant commander wanted for helping to carry out the school massacre was also killed, said Shahab Ali Shah, the top civilian administrator in the area. | In a clash with security forces late Thursday in Kyber Agency, a top militant commander wanted for helping to carry out the school massacre was also killed, said Shahab Ali Shah, the top civilian administrator in the area. |
| Shah said the commander, known as Saddam, was the “facilitator” of the school massacre in Peshawar. He was also the alleged mastermind of recent attacks on polio workers, including one that killed 13 security personnel in 2013, Pakistan’s DAWN newspaper reported. | Shah said the commander, known as Saddam, was the “facilitator” of the school massacre in Peshawar. He was also the alleged mastermind of recent attacks on polio workers, including one that killed 13 security personnel in 2013, Pakistan’s DAWN newspaper reported. |
| Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was huddled with top advisers on Friday discussing ways to implement the country’s new counter-terrorism strategy. | Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was huddled with top advisers on Friday discussing ways to implement the country’s new counter-terrorism strategy. |
| In an address to the nation shortly after midnight on Thursday, Sharif announced the formation of military courts to try terrorism suspects. The government also plans to crack down on unregistered madrassas, eliminate terrorists’ access to social media and other communications networks, and outlaw any armed group from operating within the country. | In an address to the nation shortly after midnight on Thursday, Sharif announced the formation of military courts to try terrorism suspects. The government also plans to crack down on unregistered madrassas, eliminate terrorists’ access to social media and other communications networks, and outlaw any armed group from operating within the country. |
| Pakistan is also moving forward plans to execute as many as 500 prisoners being held on terrorism charges. | Pakistan is also moving forward plans to execute as many as 500 prisoners being held on terrorism charges. |
| A senior Interior Ministry official also told the Washington Post that 6,777 Pakistanis and foreigners are also being monitored around-the-clock for suspected ties to militant groups. | A senior Interior Ministry official also told the Washington Post that 6,777 Pakistanis and foreigners are also being monitored around-the-clock for suspected ties to militant groups. |
| The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss a sensitive matter, said at least some of those under surveillance could be arrested over the next two days. | The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss a sensitive matter, said at least some of those under surveillance could be arrested over the next two days. |
| In another major escalation in the government crackdown, a local court in Islamabad issued an arrest warrant on Friday for Abdul Aziz, chief cleric of the city’s Red Mosque. | In another major escalation in the government crackdown, a local court in Islamabad issued an arrest warrant on Friday for Abdul Aziz, chief cleric of the city’s Red Mosque. |
| The mosque was the sight of a bloody government crackdown in 2007 that helped spur the creation of the Pakistani Taliban. Last week, several Islamabad residents filed a complaint accusing Aziz of issuing threats against them. | The mosque was the sight of a bloody government crackdown in 2007 that helped spur the creation of the Pakistani Taliban. Last week, several Islamabad residents filed a complaint accusing Aziz of issuing threats against them. |
| If he is apprehended, some of Aziz’s followers have vowed an unprecedented wave of retaliation against the government, including suicide bombings in the capital of Islamabad. But it was not immediately clear on Friday whether Pakistani police or the army would move to enforce the arrest warrant against him. | If he is apprehended, some of Aziz’s followers have vowed an unprecedented wave of retaliation against the government, including suicide bombings in the capital of Islamabad. But it was not immediately clear on Friday whether Pakistani police or the army would move to enforce the arrest warrant against him. |
| Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar and Shaiq Hussain in Islamabad contributed to this report. | Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar and Shaiq Hussain in Islamabad contributed to this report. |