Islamabad: At least eight persons, including three Haqqani network commanders, were killed today in a rare US drone strike outside Pakistan's tribal belt, just a day after a top official said the US had agreed to halt such attacks during negotiations with militants.
The CIA-operated spy plane fired three missiles at Islami Madrassa Muktaba Darul Uloom at Thall in Hangu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Thall is located within the settled areas and just outside North Waziristan Agency.
According to Afghan Taliban sources, those killed included Ahmad Jan, a close aide of Haqqani network chief Sirajuddin Haqqani, and commanders Gul Marjan and Hamidullah. Five others were injured.
The attack came a day after Sartaj Aziz, the Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security, told a parliamentary panel that the US has assured Pakistan it will not conduct drone strikes during the government's talks with the militants.
Latest World News
