Related News
Missile hits Taliban stronghold
Source: Agencies |
March 2, 2009, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A SUSPECTED United States missile killed seven people in a Taliban stronghold in northwestern Pakistan yesterday, officials said, while a hard-line cleric rattled peace efforts elsewhere by demanding the government launch Islamic courts within two weeks.
The missiles landed in Murghiban village in the South Waziristan tribal region and also wounded three people, two Pakistani intelligence officials said. At least four of the dead were believed to be foreign militants, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
They said drones believed to be used by the US were seen in the air ahead of the strike and that Taliban fighters surrounded the damaged center afterward. The compound was allegedly a militant training facility, the officials said.
Pakistan has condemned the strikes, saying they inflame anti-American sentiment especially when they kill civilians, but many analysts speculate the two countries have a secret deal allowing the attacks.
Muslim-majority Pakistan has also turned to peace talks to try pacifying the insurgency in its northwest.
Last month, Pakistan agreed to implement Islamic law in the Swat Valley, a former tourist haven where militants have gained tremendous sway. The provincial government in northwestern Pakistan made the pledge to Sufi Muhammad, a pro-Taliban cleric. Muhammad said yesterday it did not appear the government was holding up its end of the bargain.
"I'm not seeing any practical steps for the implementation of the peace agreement," the cleric told reporters.
Muhammad set a March 15 deadline for the Islamic courts to start running.
The missiles landed in Murghiban village in the South Waziristan tribal region and also wounded three people, two Pakistani intelligence officials said. At least four of the dead were believed to be foreign militants, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
They said drones believed to be used by the US were seen in the air ahead of the strike and that Taliban fighters surrounded the damaged center afterward. The compound was allegedly a militant training facility, the officials said.
Pakistan has condemned the strikes, saying they inflame anti-American sentiment especially when they kill civilians, but many analysts speculate the two countries have a secret deal allowing the attacks.
Muslim-majority Pakistan has also turned to peace talks to try pacifying the insurgency in its northwest.
Last month, Pakistan agreed to implement Islamic law in the Swat Valley, a former tourist haven where militants have gained tremendous sway. The provincial government in northwestern Pakistan made the pledge to Sufi Muhammad, a pro-Taliban cleric. Muhammad said yesterday it did not appear the government was holding up its end of the bargain.
"I'm not seeing any practical steps for the implementation of the peace agreement," the cleric told reporters.
Muhammad set a March 15 deadline for the Islamic courts to start running.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
