Saturday, August 18, 2012

US drone strikes suspected insurgent hideout in northern Pakistan, killing 5 militants, Pakistani officials say - @AP

Buy AP Photo Reprints
Interactives
Interactive about flood-hit areas in Asia
Floods in Pakistan
Battling Taliban in Pakistan
A village destroyed: On the front lines of the Pakistan-Taliban conflict
Timeline on embassy attacks
Latest News
US drone kills 5 militants in northern Pakistan During Ramadan, Pakistanis dodge tax collectors Attack shows need for Pakistani Taliban offensive Pakistan denies Afghan meeting with Taliban No. 2 Wife of Md. man held in Pakistan urges release Taliban to debate Pakistani cricket star's protest Afghan official delays Pakistan trip amid tension
Photo Gallery
Pakistan Elections
Multimedia
Child labor in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- Pakistani officials say a U.S. drone-fired missile has struck a suspected insurgent hideout along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, killing five militants.

The two intelligence officials said Saturday's strike targeted allies of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a militant commander in North Waziristan whose forces frequently target NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan.

The officials say three militants were also wounded in the strike. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

The attack comes amid speculation over a possible Pakistani military operation in North Waziristan.

Pakistan has been reluctant to undertake an offensive, saying its military is already overtaxed. But many in the U.S. believe Pakistan is reluctant to upset militant groups that could be useful allies in Afghanistan after foreign forces leave.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.