WANA - A roadside bomb on Monday killed a local government official and two others in Raghzai area of South Waziristan Agency on Monday, officials said.
The bomb, detonated remotely, hit the vehicle of political administration official Farooq Wazir in Raghzai area of troubled South Waziristan district, said a senior security official. Farooq Wazir and two others were killed on the spot, the official said. Local intelligence officials confirmed the blast and casualties.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast and deplored the loss of life and extended condolences to the bereaved families, a government statement said. He also expressed government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism and extremism from the country.
Some other reports, however, said that three men killed in the blast were officials of political administration.
According to a source, Political Muharar Farooq Wazir with his two associates was on his way to Wana Bazaar from his home town when their vehicle was hit by a remote-controlled bomb planted on a roadside, killing them on the spot.
The two tribesmen were identified as Hazrat Noor and Raz Khan. The Pakistan army began a major campaign against Taliban and other militant strongholds in the neighbouring North Waziristan tribal area in June last year and authorities have now vowed to intensify operations in other border regions and across the country. Elsewhere in South Waziristan, Taliban militants killed two local tribesmen and dumped their bodies in a marketplace, accusing them of spying for the United States.
Meanwhile, at least 12 terrorists were killed by security forces in a ground operation in Datta Khel area of North Wazirastan Agency late on Sunday night.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) the terrorists were surrounded by troops in a cordon and search operation. During heavy exchange of fire, 12 militants were killed. The ISPR said fleeing terrorists also left behind few of their dead bodies.
DRONE STRIKE KILLS 4 IN SHAWAL
Monitoring Desk adds: A drone strike killed four suspected terrorists in Shawal Tehsil of North Waziristan Agency (NWA), reported a private TV channel on Monday.
According to the sources, two missiles were fired on a car by drones in Shawal Tehsil, killing four people. The car was completely destroyed in the drone strike.
Identity of the deceased could not be confirmed till filing of the report.
Drone flights are still going on in the area and there is an atmosphere of terror in Miranshah. US drone strikes have killed several leading militants in tribal areas over the years, but are deeply unpopular in Pakistan they have also killed civilians. Various political parties especially Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf had waged a political campaign against the drone strikes and managed to block Nato supply through Pakistan almost two years ago.
Pakistan has been waging a military offensive in North Waziristan for nearly a year, trying to drive out Taliban and other militants who have long enjoyed safe haven in the lawless region. Islamabad has repeatedly condemned the US drone strikes but at the same time, there are reports that the US-led forces in Afghanistan have ‘secret approval’ of Pakistan for carrying out drone strikes.
Like all other weapons systems, the drone, currently the weapon of choice for the United States in its war against terrorism.