LOC16:54
13:54 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Sept 24 (KUNA) -- At least eleven people were killed and several others injured in a United States-led drone strike in North Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan on Wednesday, said reports.
Pakistan Foreign Office on Wednesday strongly condemning the drone strike said, "With the decisive action being taken against terrorist elements in North Waziristan, there is no need for such strikes." "We, therefore, urge US for a cessation of such strikes," Foreign Office spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam said in a statement.
The spokesperson said Pakistan regards such strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The US drone fired four missiles and completely destroyed a compound and a vehicle in the Alwara Mandi area of Dattakhel tehsil, about 60 kilometers from the main town of Miramshah, said local administration officials. Some media reports suggested that the killed people included at least two foreigners but the reports could not be verified independently.
Pakistan has condemned the drone strikes several times in past considering it violation of itآ’s territorial sovereignty. The drone strike came at a time when a military operation آ‘Zrb e Azbآ’ against the foreign and local militants is in progress in North Waziristan.
Pakistan military launched the comprehensive operation on June 15 following a deadly militant attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and banned outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). (end)
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