This Article is From Apr 10, 2009

US missile strike kills four in Pakistan

Islamabad: Despite Pakistan's reservations on American drone attacks in its restive tribal areas, US on Wednesday launched yet another missile strike killing four militants in the south Waziristan tribal region, considered to be the stronghold of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.

Militants travelling in a vehicle were targeted by the drone in the south Waziristan Agency, sources said, adding that at least four militants were killed in the attack, the latest in a wave of missile strikes by US drones in Pakistan's tribal belt.

The drones have carried out over 40 attacks since August last year, killing dozens of Taliban and Al Qaida operatives.

Pakistan describes the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty and counter-productive for the war on terror as many civilians, including women and children, have also died in the strikes.

Speaking at a joint news conference yesterday with visiting US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there was a "gap" between the two countries on the drone attacks.

Islamabad has flagged "certain red lines" that cannot be crossed by US, Qureshi had said.

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