A missile attack by a suspected US unmanned drone killed at least 20 people at the home of an Afghan border militant today.
Two missiles were fired into Mir Ali village in North Waziristan after drones had been flying overhead for several hours.
The first missile hit the house frequented by the militant, while seconds later another blew up a car parked close by.
Pakistani officials said Akash, who real name is believed to be Abdur Rehman, was among those killed. "He is a mid-level al-Qaeda man who was leading a high-profile life in Mir Ali," said the intelligence official.
Unmanned planes have fired at militant targets in Pakistan at least 16 times since mid-August, putting pressure on extremists accused of planning attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan — and perhaps terror strikes in the West.
But the increase in their frequency is straining the United States's seven-year alliance with Pakistan, where rising violence is exacerbating economic problems gnawing at the nuclear-armed country’s stability.
Pakistan says the strikes are violations of its sovereignty and insists it is tackling the militants, pointing to a continuing military offensive just north of Waziristan that has killed 1,500 insurgents.
Earlier today, a suicide bomber attacked a police chief outside his house in the north-western city of Mardan, missing him but killing three other officers and five civilians, officials said.
PA
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - U.S. missile strikes in northwest Pakistan killed up to 20 people Friday, including a mid-level al Qaeda leader said to be an Iraqi,
Pakistani officials said Akash, who real name is believed to be Abdur Rehman, was among those killed.
"He is a mid-level al Qaeda man who was leading a high-profile life in Mir Ali," said the intelligence official, who declined to be identified, referring to the second biggest town in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border.
Two missiles were fired by a pilotless "drone" aircraft into a house in Mir Ali, a major sanctuary for foreign Islamist militants including Arabs, and Central Asians, another intelligence official said.
A witness said the house was ablaze after the strike. Between 15 and 20 people were believed to have been killed.
A short while later, another suspected U.S. drone fired two missiles at a house in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, another militant hide-out on the Afghan border.
One person was killed and one wounded, a district government official said. The identities of the casualties were unknown but several militants were believed to have been in the house at the time of the strike.
U.S. forces have stepped up attacks on militants in Pakistan in response to concern about worsening security in Afghanistan.