News / Asia

Pakistani Airstrike Kills 45 in Tribal Northwest

TEXT SIZE - +

Pakistani fighter jets have bombed a militant position in the restive northwest tribal belt along the Afghan border, killing at least 45 people.

Pakistani officials and militants confirmed the strike Saturday, which took place in the valley of Tirah in the Kyber tribal district.

Kyber is the main supply route for NATO troops through Pakistan into Afghanistan.  Militants are blamed for launching frequent attacks on NATO convoys traveling through the region.  

Pakistan's military has recently stepped up offensives in Khyber and neighboring Orakzai.  Officials say more than 300 militants have been killed so far in the fighting.

Separately, Pakistan's Interior Minister said a girl left outside a house in Karachi earlier this week has been identified as the daughter of a U.S.-educated Pakistani scientist convicted of trying to kill Americans.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said DNA tests confirmed the identity of 12-year-old Fatima Siddiqui.  Her mother, Aafia Siddiqui, was found guilty in February of shooting at U.S. personnel in Afghanistan in 2008 as she was about to be questioned by interrogators.

Aafia Siddiqui and her three children disappeared in 2003 before Aafia resurfaced five years later in Afghanistan.  One of her sons was with her. The whereabouts of her other son is still unknown.  

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

You May Like

Video Egypt's Conservative Rural Vote Appears Split

Early speculation after the first two-day round is showing a race too close to call More

NATO Continues Plans for Missile Defense

While Afghanistan dominated talks in Chicago, member states also reaffirmed their commitment to ballistic-missile defense More

War Declared on Invasive Leaping Asian Carp

When Asian carp were first imported decades ago, few foresaw their environmental impact. More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Latest Asia News

Climbers Crowd Mount Everest Despite Deadly Week

More

French President Outlines Early Pullout From Afghanistan

More

China Files WTO Cases Against US Tariffs

More

French President Outlines Early Pullout From Afghanistan

More

Gunmen Attack Bus, Killing 7 in Southern Pakistan

More
Read more

Vietnam's new technology entrepreneurs look global

More

SpaceX Capsule Closes in on ISS - Live Video

More