Pakistani Officials Say 16 Militants Killed In Three Drone Strikes

Officials in Pakistan say three suspected U.S. drone strikes have killed at least 16 suspected militants in the North Waziristan tribal district on the Afghan border.

Intelligence officials told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that separate drone attacks were carried out in the Makai, Danda, and Deri Nashter areas of the Shawal mountains spanning the Afghan and Pakistani borderlands.

The strikes came a day after Pakistani officials summoned a U.S. diplomat to protest such attacks, which Pakistan views as "unlawful."

Attacks by unmanned U.S. aircraft are unpopular among Pakistan's anti-Western religious political parties.

American officials have said they believe the attacks are an important tool to counter anti-U.S. militants.

Many operatives of Al-Qaeda, Taliban, and other extremist Islamic groups have been killed in such strikes.
With reporting by AP and AFP