Nine killed in missile strike in Pak's tribal region

Islamabad, Oct 1 (PTI) Nine persons, most of them foreign
militants, were killed and six injured as missiles fired from
a suspected drone hit a house in Pakistan's restive tribal
areas Wednesday.

Two missiles were fired at a house in Khushali Torikhel
area near Mir Ali town at around midnight, TV channels
reported, killing nine people, most of them Arab militants.

The missile launch from an unmanned drone, believed to be
operated by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, came as tribesmen
reportedly fired at three drones, which were circling the area
close to the Afghanistan border.

Some of the Arab militants were initially injured, but
later succumbed to injuries.

Pakistani security and Intelligence officials used the
term 'Arab and foreign' for militants from Osama bin Laden's
al-Qaeda network, which is suspected to have safe havens in
the tribal belts.

In a separate incident, two persons were killed in a bomb
blast in a market in the Khyber Agency. No group claimed
responsibility for the attack.

The blast created tension in the area. The local
political administration cordoned off the site of the blast
and began an investigation.

This was probably the sixth case of unmanned drones
targeting houses in the tribal areas, particularly in north
and south Waziristan.

The stepped up attacks by drones and a recent
cross-border raid carried out by suspected special forces had
created tension between Washington and Islamabad.

Wednesday's missile attack came even as the U.S. assured
Pakistan that it supported its territorial integrity. The
assurance was given in the talks held in Washington between
top officials of Pakistan government and Pentagon and state
department.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has stepped up
security across the country for the Eid-ul-Fitr festival,
which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan.

Thousands of police, paramilitary and army personnel
have been deployed in the federal capital and other cities to
prevent terrorist attacks.

Top leaders stayed away from public congregations while
offering Eid prayers. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and
members of his cabinet offered prayers at a mosque within his
high-security official residence in Islamabad.

President Asif Ali Zardari joined officials in offering
prayers at a mosque within the heavily guarded presidential
palace in the heart of Islamabad. Large contingents of
policemen were seen at all Eidgahs and mosques across the
federal capital.