U.S. drone attack kills 21 militants in PakistanJuly 7, 2012 - 11:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A U.S. drone targeted a compound in the restive North Waziristan tribal region on Friday, July 6 killing 21 suspected militants in the first such attack since Pakistan reopened NATO supply routes to neighbouring Afghanistan, NDTV said. The CIA-operated spy plane fired two missiles at the compound in Datta Khel area near the Afghan border. TV news channels quoted their sources as saying that 21 people were killed. Foreign fighters were among the dead. The strike destroyed the compound, witnesses said. Datta Khel is considered a stronghold of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the commander of a Taliban faction accused of sending fighters across the border to fight foreign troops in Afghanistan. This was the first U.S. drone strike since Pakistan restored supply lines for NATO troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday. It was also the second drone strike in North Waziristan Agency in a week. A U.S. drone killed eight persons in Shawal area on July 1. The strike came days after Pakistani leaders said talks were continuing with the U.S. on ending the drone campaign following the reopening of NATO supply routes. The Foreign Office said on Thursday that the U.S. drone attacks were counter-productive and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. The U.S. has rejected calls from Pakistan to stop the drone strikes, insisting that the spy planes are effective in eliminating Al Qaida and Taliban elements hiding in the tribal belt. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | IDBank, Dalma team up for Caucasian Deer Reintroduction Program IDBank has joined Dalma Garden Mall’s Green Challenge to support the Caucasian red deer reintroduction project. Through Ucom’s support the 12th Sunchild Festival concludes On May 24-28, with the support of Ucom, the 12th international environmental festival Sunchild took place in Yerevan. U.S., Turkey emphasize importance of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal Jake Sullivan and Akif Cagatay Kilic have discussed the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia coach expects good football in Slovenia friendly The Armenian national team has left for Ljubljana a friendly match against Slovenia on June 4. |