At least eight militants, including a top al-Qaeda leader, were killed in two separate drone attacks in Pakistan's border regions along Afghanistan, officials said today.
In the first attack, a drone fired two missiles at a compound in the Chancharano Kandaw area on the zero line of Tirah Valley of Pakistan's Khyber border tribal district and the Nazyan district of Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.
The attack killed four militants, including an important member of al-Qaeda's South Asia branch, which was set up by Ayman al-Zawahiri recently to focus on the subcontinent.
An official said that those killed included Afghan Taliban and senior member of al-Qaeda's South Asia franchise Sheikh Imran Ali Siddiqi, also known as Haji Shaikh Waliullah.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Osama Mehmood confirmed the death. He said the drone killed two of the group's members.
"They were present atop a mountain when the drones rained missiles, killing them at the scene," he tweeted.
"We are sacrificing lives for the protection of life and property of Muslims," chief of al-Qaeda in the subcontinent, Maulana Asim Omar, said.
It is believed that a large number of militants have fled to remote Tirah valley on the border after Pakistan launched a massive military operation in North Waziristan in June.
In the second attack, a drone targeted a vehicle in Shawal area of North Waziristan, killing another four militants last night.
Another official said that those killed were members of Pakistani Taliban, including a local commander.
The US has increased drone attacks despite opposition by Pakistan which considers these strikes as violation of its sovereignty.
