Pakistani intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. missile strike
has killed at least 20 people, including several suspected foreign
militants, along the Afghan border.
On Saturday Local villagers began burying the dead from Friday's attack on a home (in the village of Mohammed Khel) in the North Waziristan tribal region.
The Pakistani officials say an unmanned aircraft launched a missile
that hit the home of an Afghan. Officials say many of the dead were
Arabs and that they had no information whether any senior militant
leaders were killed.
Pakistan's army spokesman, Major-General Athar Abbas, told VOA today
that details of the missile attack were still coming and that it was
too early to say whether any foreigners were killed in the attack.
Abbas also denied reports of a separate attack in North Waziristan
Friday, saying international troops were carrying out an operation
across the border, in Afghanistan.
Pakistan objects to cross-border attacks and is conducting its own
offensive against suspected al-Qaida and Taliban militants in its
northwestern Bajaur tribal region.
In some parts of Pakistan's northwest, tribal leaders are taking their own action against militants.
On Saturday, a tribal council (or jirga) in the Mamound area of Bajaur decided to form a local tribal militia (or lashkar) to fight insurgents. Residents say the group immediately began setting fire to homes belonging to suspected militants.
Local tribesman also said the government had re-established control of
several parts of Bajaur, amid the ongoing military operation there.