.US strikes in Pakistan follow aid cut, kill 42
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) - Four suspected U.S. missile strikes in northwestern Pakistan in less than 24 hours killed at least 42 alleged militants, an unusually heavy barrage at a time when relations between the two countries are badly strained, Pakistani intelligence officials said Tuesday.
The strikes follow the Obama administration's announcement that it is suspending more than one-third of U.S. military aid to Pakistan until disagreements are worked out. The attacks indicate the White House has no intention of stopping the drone program even though the attacks have increasingly caused tension with Pakistan.
The barrage began late Monday when suspected U.S. missiles hit a house in Gorvak village in North Waziristan, killing at least 20 alleged militants, said two Pakistani intelligence officials. Two other Pakistani intelligence officials put the death toll at 23. The village is very close to the border and is often used as a route for militants to cross into Afghanistan.
Missiles also hit a house in the Dremala village of South Waziristan tribal area on Tuesday, killing at least eight alleged militants, said two Pakistani intelligence officials. Two other intelligence officials put the death toll from the strike at 13.
Also Tuesday, suspected U.S. missiles hit a house in Shawal area of North Waziristan, killing 10 alleged militants, and a car was struck in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan hours later, killing four alleged militants, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
The Pakistani intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
The areas where the strikes occurred are very dangerous, so it is difficult to independently confirm the intelligence officials' accounts.
Pakistan's reluctance to target Afghan militants based in North Waziristan who stage cross-border attacks against NATO troops in Afghanistan has been one of the main sources of tension with the U.S.
Pakistan says its troops are stretched too thin by operations in other parts of the country, but many analysts believe the government is hesitant to cross militants with whom it has historical ties and who could be useful allies in Afghanistan after foreign forces withdraw.
In response, the Obama administration has dramatically increased drone strikes in the area over the past couple of years and has also hit areas in South Waziristan. The U.S. refuses to publicly acknowledge the covert CIA drone program in Pakistan, but officials have said privately that the strikes have killed senior Taliban and al-Qaida officials.
Pakistan is widely believed to have supported the strikes in the past, even though officials often criticize them publicly as a violation of the country's sovereignty. But that support has become less certain in recent months, especially following the covert U.S. raid that killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden on May 2 in a Pakistani garrison town not far from Islamabad.
The raid humiliated the Pakistani military, which was not told about it beforehand. U.S. officials said they kept Pakistan in the dark because they were worried that someone would tip off bin Laden.
The relationship between the two countries has spiraled down since then, and President Barack Obama's chief of staff, William Daley, said Sunday that the U.S. was suspending more than one-third - or $800 million - of its military aid to Pakistan until the two countries can patch things up.
Pakistan's defense minister, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, said in an interview with Pakistani TV Express 24/7 that Pakistan could withdraw its forces from the border regions along Afghanistan due to the cut off in funds.
But that was contradicted by the army, which holds far more power than the civilian-run defense ministry and which has downplayed the aid suspension.
After a meeting of top commanders Tuesday, the army issued a statement saying it was determined to "fight the menace of terrorism in our own national interest using our own resources."
MyWay
The strikes follow the Obama administration's announcement that it is suspending more than one-third of U.S. military aid to Pakistan until disagreements are worked out. The attacks indicate the White House has no intention of stopping the drone program even though the attacks have increasingly caused tension with Pakistan.
The barrage began late Monday when suspected U.S. missiles hit a house in Gorvak village in North Waziristan, killing at least 20 alleged militants, said two Pakistani intelligence officials. Two other Pakistani intelligence officials put the death toll at 23. The village is very close to the border and is often used as a route for militants to cross into Afghanistan.
Missiles also hit a house in the Dremala village of South Waziristan tribal area on Tuesday, killing at least eight alleged militants, said two Pakistani intelligence officials. Two other intelligence officials put the death toll from the strike at 13.
Also Tuesday, suspected U.S. missiles hit a house in Shawal area of North Waziristan, killing 10 alleged militants, and a car was struck in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan hours later, killing four alleged militants, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
The Pakistani intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
The areas where the strikes occurred are very dangerous, so it is difficult to independently confirm the intelligence officials' accounts.
Pakistan's reluctance to target Afghan militants based in North Waziristan who stage cross-border attacks against NATO troops in Afghanistan has been one of the main sources of tension with the U.S.
Pakistan says its troops are stretched too thin by operations in other parts of the country, but many analysts believe the government is hesitant to cross militants with whom it has historical ties and who could be useful allies in Afghanistan after foreign forces withdraw.
In response, the Obama administration has dramatically increased drone strikes in the area over the past couple of years and has also hit areas in South Waziristan. The U.S. refuses to publicly acknowledge the covert CIA drone program in Pakistan, but officials have said privately that the strikes have killed senior Taliban and al-Qaida officials.
Pakistan is widely believed to have supported the strikes in the past, even though officials often criticize them publicly as a violation of the country's sovereignty. But that support has become less certain in recent months, especially following the covert U.S. raid that killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden on May 2 in a Pakistani garrison town not far from Islamabad.
The raid humiliated the Pakistani military, which was not told about it beforehand. U.S. officials said they kept Pakistan in the dark because they were worried that someone would tip off bin Laden.
The relationship between the two countries has spiraled down since then, and President Barack Obama's chief of staff, William Daley, said Sunday that the U.S. was suspending more than one-third - or $800 million - of its military aid to Pakistan until the two countries can patch things up.
Pakistan's defense minister, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, said in an interview with Pakistani TV Express 24/7 that Pakistan could withdraw its forces from the border regions along Afghanistan due to the cut off in funds.
But that was contradicted by the army, which holds far more power than the civilian-run defense ministry and which has downplayed the aid suspension.
After a meeting of top commanders Tuesday, the army issued a statement saying it was determined to "fight the menace of terrorism in our own national interest using our own resources."
MyWay
posted by madtom at 11:50 PM
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