Explosion rocks vehicle in Pakistan’s volatile northwest, killing 3 people
By Rasool Dawar, APMonday, February 15, 2010
Blast hits vehicle in NW Pakistan, killing 3
MIR ALI, Pakistan — An explosion rocked a vehicle in Pakistan’s volatile northwest near the Afghan border, killing three people in an area dominated by militants who often stage cross-border attacks against U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, officials said.
There were conflicting reports about the source of the blast in the North Waziristan tribal area. A local government official, Wazir Gul, and two intelligence officials said it was caused by a missile fired from a U.S. drone and identified the three killed as militants.
But two other intelligence officials said the vehicle hit a land mine as it was traveling through Tapi village, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of the main town of Miranshah. They said the identities of the three killed were unclear.
The intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
The U.S. has pressed Pakistan to target militants using its territory to attack coalition troops in Afghanistan, but the government has resisted, saying it has its hands full fighting local fighters waging war against the state.
In response, President Barack Obama has stepped up the use of missile strikes in Pakistan’s lawless tribal area since he took office. The U.S. does not talk publicly about the secret CIA-run program, but officials say privately that the strikes have killed several senior Taliban and al-Qaida leaders.
Pakistani officials regularly protest the strikes as violations of the country’s sovereignty. But U.S. officials say privately that the government supports the program.
Associated Press writer Hussain Afzal contributed to this report from Parachinar.
