PARACHINAR, Pakistan — Two missiles fired from a U.S. drone struck a homenear Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, killing two militants from theHaqqani network, officials in Islamabad said Wednesday.
Local police chief Ameer Zaman Khan said the strike took place in DapaMamuzai village near Pakistan’s Kurram tribal region.
Two intelligence officials identified the slain militants as commanderAhsanullah and Nasir Mehsud. They said the men were from the Haqqaninetwork of the Afghan Taliban. The officials spoke on condition ofanonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
Pakistan considers U.S. drone strikes a violation of its sovereignty, whilethe U.S. accuses Pakistan of providing safe havens for militants, a chargePakistan denied saying it acts against militants without discrimination.
“Pakistan has continued to emphasize to the United States the importance ofsharing actionable intelligence so that appropriate action is taken againstterrorists by our forces within our territory,” a statement from theForeign Affairs said.
The ministry condemned the strike, saying it targeted an Afghan refugeecamp and reiterated demands for early repatriation of Afghan refugees.
“Their presence in Pakistan helps Afghan terrorists melt and morph amongthem,” it said.
Pakistani-U.S. relations have been on a downward spiral since the 2011 U.S.operation that killed al-Qaida’s chief Osama bin Laden in his hideout inthe Pakistani town of Abbottabad.
Earlier in January, President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of providing asafe haven for terrorists, saying that the U.S. had “foolishly” givenPakistan more than $33 billion in aid in the last 15 years and had gottennothing in return but “lies & deceit.”
Washington later confirmed it will withhold $255 million in U.S. militaryaid to Pakistan this year.