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(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
BY ELIZABETH HAGDEORN
Reports today of a U.S. drone strike out of northwest Pakistan — killing between four
and seven, including a high ranking Taliban leader.
Pakistani intelligence officials say an unmanned aircraft launched two missiles at a house
in the North Waziristan region of Pakistan — a Taliban stronghold on the Afghan border.
(Via Google Maps)
The drone strike reportedly killed the Pakistani Taliban's second-in-command, Wali-Ur Rehman.
(Via CBS)
Rehman was the leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or the TTP. He was seen as the more
moderate voice to the the militant group — more likely to engage in peace talks than the group's
leader, Hakimullah Mehsud. (Via Al Jazeera)
The director of an Islamabad-based think tank told The Wall Street Journal,
"I would rather have Wali ur Rehman alive than dead. This now strengthens the Hakimullah
Mehsud clan. Wali ur Rehman is a reasonable man. It is possible to negotiate with him."
The Taliban, however, denied to Pakistani newspaper, The News International, that Rehman
was dead. No comment yet from the U.S.
The Pakistani government has condemned the attacks, with Pakistan's Foreign Ministry
writing:
"Drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives, have human
rights and humanitarian implications and violate the principles of national sovereignty, territorial
integrity and international law." (Via The New York Times)
Pakistan's newly elected government is set to take over in a few days. It's incoming
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has repeatedly called on Washington to end drone strikes
in his country. (Via BBC)
This drone strike is the first since President Obama pledged less than a week ago to scale
back drone attacks against suspected terrorists. (Via The White House)
Pakistani intelligence officials tell the Washington Post three children were among
the injured in Wednesday's drone strike.