8 killed in missile strikes in Pakistan’s tribal belt

Four people were killed as one of the missiles blasted away one of the armed vehicles and a fort-like house adjacent to it in Karikot village in South Waziristan.

Minutes later, the other missile hit a house in the adjacent Azam Warsak village and the missile hits caused huge fires which forced panicked residents onto the streets.

The residents said that seconds before being hit, militants on one of the gun mounted vehicles had opened fire from an anti-aircraft gun after spotting the drones.

It was not immediately known if any senior Taliban or al-Qaeda leaders were killed.

But local tribesmen said the people killed were members of Pakistani Taliban group.

Hundreds of local Taliban militiamen cordoned off the area and were seen taking out the bodies from the rubble and later made public announcement that the funeral of the slain people would be held in Wana, the capital town of Waziristan.

US drones have stepped up missile strikes against targets in North and South Waziristan in the past few months, marking a sharp increase in such operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants sheltering in the area.

The drones have carried out around 40 attacks since August. Monday’s strikes were conducted in an area controlled by Pakistani Taliban commander Haji Nazeer.

While the missile attacks have killed large number of militants including some top al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives, Pakistan has criticised it saying they amounted to violation of its sovereignty and undermining its own war on terror.

Meanwhile Pakistani security forces continued their offensive against the Taliban in the Swat valley of North West Frontier Province, pounding militant positions in the town of Ningolai, witnesses said. There were no reports of casualties.

Curfew was imposed in the area this morning and people were asked to stay indoors before helicopter gunships started shelling rebel positions.