US Drone Strike in Pakistan Kills Kin of Militant Leader

Suspected US unmanned aircraft fired six missiles at a vehicle in Pakistan's rugged tribal region today, killing five militants, including a close ally to one of the area's top commanders, Pakistani intelligence officials said. The attack in the South Waziristan tribal area killed the cousin and brother of Maulvi Nazir, one of the most powerful militant commanders in the tribal region. Nazir is accused of working with the Taliban and al-Qaeda to stage attacks against foreign troops in neighboring Afghanistan. His cousin was also a deputy leader in the group.

The militants killed in today's drone strike were riding in a double-cabin pickup truck from Tora Gola village to the nearby area of Azam Warsak when they were hit, said the intelligence officials. Three other people were injured in the attack. Before the strike, a Pakistani army convoy was hit by a roadside bomb in the Shakai area of South Waziristan. The explosion killed two soldiers and wounded three others. Also today, a bomb exploded in the main food market in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, wounding at least 11 people. (More Pakistan stories.)