US drone strikes killed at least 14 people today in the North Waziristan Agency and, as usual, Pakistani security officials termed everyone slain a “suspected militant” though they conceded, again as usual, that they had no idea who any of the people were.
The first drone strike destroyed a home and a vehicle north of Miramshah, killing nine. An hour later another strike hit Datta Khel, killing five others. The Datta Khel strike destroyed a vehicle and officials said all those killed were “foreigners,” not uncommon as North Waziristan borders Afghanistan and has been a haven for Pashtun refugees from the north.
Earlier in the day, locals in Miramshah reported that militants had dumped the bodies of three people on the roadside. The three were suspected of being US spies, again not an uncommon situation in the region.
US drone strikes have become an almost daily occurrance in North Waziristan, as the Obama Administration has pressured the Pakistani government to launch a military offensive against the tribal area. Pakistan’s government has been reluctant, however, owing to the large number of other offensives they are already engaged in around the tribal areas.