Drone Strike, Convoy Attack in Pakistan

Militants hit at government and NATO targets in Pakistan on Monday, and came under attack from a suspected U.S. drone.

Police near Peshawar said militants opened fire on NATO tankers carrying fuel for troops in Afghanistan. Police said at least two people, including a driver and his assistant, were wounded in the attack.

Separately, officials said a suicide bomber killed at least two police officers and wounded five others in the town of Swabi, northwest of the capital, Islamabad. Police said the bomber detonated himself near the entrance to police headquarters. At least one other assailant was shot and killed by police during a gunbattle.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, saying it was in retaliation for U.S. drone strikes.

Meanwhile, Pakistani intelligence officials said a suspected U.S. missile strike Monday killed five suspected militants in the North Waziristan tribal region. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a U.S. drone aircraft launched missiles at a home in the Hyder Khel area. The identities of those killed were not immediately known.

The United States has been increasing its use of drone missiles against Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants in northwestern Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan. 

Pakistani officials often criticize the strikes as a violation of the country's sovereignty, while the U.S. does not publicly acknowledge them.

• WarOnTerror |
• Pakistan |
• unmannedAircraft |
• NATO