Miranshah – A US drone strike in North Waziristan late Wednesday night killed at least four suspected militants, marking the first drone attack in Pakistan in nearly three weeks.
Drone Fires Two Missiles in Qutab Khel Village
According to security sources, the CIA-operated drone fired two missiles at a residential compound located in Qutab Khel, a village on the outskirts of Miramshah, the main town in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.
The identities of the victims have not yet been confirmed due to the severely charred bodies, but officials suspect that all four individuals were of Afghan origin.
Panic in the Region as Drones Hover Overhead
Residents reported that panic gripped the area following the airstrike, with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) continuing to fly overhead until early Thursday morning. The psychological impact of drone surveillance remains significant among the civilian population.
Drone Strikes Continue to Strain US-Pakistan Relations
The controversial drone program has long been a source of tension between Islamabad and Washington. The Pakistani government condemns drone attacks as counterproductive and a violation of national sovereignty, while the US defends the strikes as an effective counterterrorism tool.
UN General Assembly Backs Pakistan’s Position
Earlier this month, the United Nations General Assembly passed a unanimous resolution urging the US to adhere to international law when conducting drone operations in foreign territories. The resolution came in response to growing global criticism and marked the first time the drone issue was raised at this level.
Drone Strike Statistics in Pakistan
Since 2004, the tribal areas of Pakistan have been hit by nearly 400 drone attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 3,000 individuals, many of whom remain unidentified. While some are confirmed militants, civilian casualties remain a major concern for human rights organizations.
