Missile strike kills six in tribal Pakistan

Islamabad, Aug 21: At least six people were killed and three wounded in a fresh missile strike at the residence of an elder in Pakistan's tribal region last night.

"Missiles fired from across the Afghan border hit the residence of a tribal elder in Zari Noor area of South Waziristan bordering Afghanistan, killing six people and wounding three others," Dawn newspaper reported on Thursday, Aug 21.This was the second missile strike in less than a week's time. Earlier, four missiles fired from Afghanistan in the same region on Monday, Aug 18 killed 10 people mostly foreign militants.

Local people said two missiles struck the compound of Yaqoob Mughalkhel Wazir near a Scouts camp on Wednesday, Aug 20 night. Spy planes had been seen over the area before the explosions.

Sources said bodies were found in the rubble and three wounded people were rescued. They said Arab nationals and 'Punjabis' were among those who had been killed. Yaqoob Wazir was also injured.

Supporters of pro-government militant commander Maulvi Nazir rushed to the place and cordoned off the compound.

Tribal sources said Yaqoob Wazir, who lived near the local brigade headquarters, was an influential figure and had contacts with local and foreign militants. He had played an important role in a peace agreement between the government and militants of the region.

The sources claimed that foreign militants, particularly Arabs, often visited his home.

It was not immediately confirmed whether the US forces had carried out the attack from across the border or Pakistani forces in the region had hit the compound. A suspected missile attack had killed 12 suspected militants in Baghar area of the region on August 13.

al Qaeda chemical weapons expert Abu Khabab Al Masri and 11 other people were killed in another missile attack in Azam Warsak on July 28.

UNI