A US drone killed at least 10 Taliban militants, including one top commander, on 4 January near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. This is the first drone attack by the CIA-operated pilotless aircraft in Pakistan since the commencement of the New Year.
The drone had targeted a compound in the Shawal region of North Waziristan, Economic Times reported. It is one of the seven tribal districts in Pakistan, where the military in engaged in operations against Al-Qaeda militants.
It is understood that in Sunday's mission, 10 militants including the commander of the terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Hafiz Gul Bahadur, were killed. The US drone had fired two missiles aimed at the Gul Bahadur compound, which resulted in the death of the Taliban chief official and nine others in Alwar Mandi of Shawal. Many others are said to be injured in the attack.
The mountainous Shawal region, bordering Pakistan and Afghan houses many al-Qaeda militants who are still hiding despite Pakistan army's relentless campaign to evacuate them. So far, over 1,500 militants have been killed in the area by the army since the beginning of their operation in June last year.
Many US drones have targeted the militants here in the past, although they are considered one of the worst ways to fight terrorism. Even Pakistani officials have publicly condemned the drone strikes, saying they violate sovereignty.
