Suspected U.S. missiles kill 14 in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Missiles believed to have been fired by U.S. pilotless drone aircraft hit a militant hideout and training camp in Pakistan on Thursday, a local official told Reuters, and a villager said at least 14 people were killed.
The missiles struck in the Barjo area of Kurram tribal region, close to the Afghan border.
"The training camp was completely destroyed," said Noor Islam, a villager in Barjo. He said 14 bodies had been recovered from the debris of the blitzed camp.
U.S. drone attacks in Kurram are rare, as al Qaeda and Taliban militants have been mostly targeted in the nearby Waziristan region.
"Four missiles hit a militant hideout and training camp in the Barjo area," a senior government official in Kurram told Reuters.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of sensitivity over U.S. missiles strikes on Pakistani territory. Pakistan has told its American ally that the strikes are counter-productive in the long run because they often cause civilian casualties and fuel support for the militant cause.
© Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved
It's what's inside that counts
The race to unlock its mysteries started several weeks ago. Full Article | Blog
YUAN DEBATE
U.S. push no slam dunk
Pressure is building on the Obama administration to name China a "currency manipulator". Full Article | Related Story
All eyes now on execution
The deal, which makes Bharti the world's No.5 wireless firm by subscribers with a presence in 18 countries, brings tough challenges for the company. Full Article | Related Story