US drone strike kills six in N.Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: A US drone missile attack Tuesday killed at least six suspected militants in the 11th such strike targeting Pakistan's northwest Taliban stronghold this month, intelligence officials said.

The strike took place at 6:30pm (1330 GMT) in Degan village, 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town of the tribal North Waziristan district and a known hub of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

“Two missiles fired by a US drone hit a compound which was being used by militants,” a senior security official in the area said. “One missile hit a compound and the other hit a vehicle outside it. Six militants were killed.” The death toll had initially been put at three.

Another security official confirmed the hit and casualties, saying that the nationalities of those killed was not yet known.

“It is also not clear if any high-value target was present in the area at the time of the attack,” he said, adding that the death toll may rise.

A volley of drone strikes has hit the northwest this month, all targeting North Waziristan, a bastion of Al-Qaeda fighters, the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

The drone strikes are a source of friction between the United States and its ally Pakistan, which says they are a violation of its sovereignty.

US officials say the missile strikes are carried out under an agreement with Islamabad that allows Pakistani leaders to decry the attacks in public, but Islamabad denies this. –Agencies

Marshall Plan needed for Pakistan: Zardari

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday called on the international community to give more resources to fight terrorism and build a developed Pakistan.
Addressing a reception held for leading citizens in Lahore, the President said, “We have to convince the world to give us the resources to take on the monster of terrorism.”
Pakistan is facing numerous challenges, he said adding this century will belong to Asia and the world is looking towards Pakistan.
“There is a natural instinct in the nation of Pakistan and it is shown by the people and political forces including PPP and PML that they turn their weaknesses into strength,” he remarked.
He said, “Time and again I have been asking the world for a Marshall Plan for Pakistan like the one they had for Europe.”
“Yes, they have not agreed as yet but can I, will I make them agree? I can promise you that one day they will come to our position. One day they will realise that root of all the wars in Afghanistan goes through Pakistan,” he added.
He assured that Pakistan would want to help its neighbourhood and the region as a active participant.
“But they have to look at the situation with a regional outlook. The problems cannot be solved indigenously by Pakistan or any other country. It has to be a collective effort,” the President stressed.
President Zardari said he is dreaming of a Pakistan in which investors come from all over the world to set up projects.
He reiterated that Pakistan wanted better relations and more trade with its neighbouring countries. He urged all the political forces to unite together in the war on terrorism.
He said the people of Pakistan today stand shoulder to shoulder with their brothers in the army, police and paramilitary forces.
“We stand together against the terrorists who want to change our way of life. This far we have come through political maturity and for that I congratulate  the Prime Minister, parliament, leader of the opposition and all political forces for political ownership of the war.”
He said the solution to this war is collectiveness and they have collected together under the banner of Pakistan to fight by believing that this is their own war.
“Before the arrival of the democratic dispensation the big question mark was whose war it is. We have found the answer that this is our war as they are killing our brothers and sisters,” he concluded.

Three army personnel injured in blast near Rawalakot

ISLAMABAD: Three military personnel were critically injured in a suicide attack on an army vehicle near Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir on Saturday.
According to the SSP Rawalakot, Sajjad Hussain, the vehicle was travelling through the Dothan area on the outskirts of Rawalakot when the bomber rammed his vehicle into it.
The injured were shifted to Combined Military Hospital Rawalakot and the area was cordoned off.
Police were collecting body parts of the bomber for further investigation.