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Drones back in action over Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The unmanned drones controlled by the CIA were back in action in Pakistan's tribal belt on Wednesday, firing four missiles on a vehicle in South Waziristan and reportedly killing at least four terrorists of the Haqqani network, which has repeatedly targeted U.S.-led international forces in Afghanistan.

Wednesday's drone strikes came at a time when Islamabad and Washington were supposed to be reworking the terms of engagement of their respective intelligence agencies in Pakistan. Director-General of ISI Shuja Pasha had travelled to Washington earlier this week amid reports that Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had asked the U.S. to stop the drone attacks. After Lieutenant-General Pasha met CIA Director Leon Panetta on Monday, the ABC News quoted sources as saying the drone attacks would continue.

The latest Predator strike in South Waziristan is the first since Pakistan registered a strong protest — with individual statements from the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Army Chief — following one of the deadliest such attacks on March 17 when nearly 40 tribesmen were killed in North Waziristan. According to the Long War Journal, this attack targeted those generally considered as “good Taliban” by Islamabad.

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