Pak condemns US drone attack that kills 6

Pakistan condemned today`s US drone attack in the North Waziristan tribal region that killed six people.

Islamabad: Pakistan condemned today`s US drone attack in the North Waziristan tribal region that killed six people.

The pilotless drones fired six missiles at Dargah Mandi area, targeting a compound and a vehicle parked inside it.

A security official said that six people were killed in the attack.

The identities of the victims are not known as yet.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan condemns the US drone strikes.

"As has been made clear on earlier occasions also, Pakistan regards such strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

These strikes also have a negative impact on the government`s efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region," said Tasnim Aslam in a statement.

This was the third US drone attack after two successive strikes last week killed 16 militants, including 10 from the dreaded Haqqani network.

The Pakistan Army has launched a ground and air offensive in the area known for having hideouts of the al-Qaeda-linked militants. Armed forces have so far killed more than 200 militants in the operation.

The drone attacks come after the deadly attack at Karachi airport last week that left 39 people dead, including 10 Taliban militants, reportedly Uzbek fighters.

The last drone attack before last week`s strikes occurred in Pakistan in December, 2013, killing three insurgents.

The drone strikes had been temporarily halted since then to provide the Pakistani government a chance to hold talks with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) aimed at ending their seven-year insurgency.

However, US President Barack Obama last month made it clear that he will continue to authorise the CIA-operated drone strikes and covert operations abroad to capture terrorists based on "actionable intelligence".

Pakistan has criticised drone strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and counter-productive to anti-terror efforts.

After last week`s strike, Islamabad had issued a formal condemnation.

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