At least 21 people were killed Monday in three separate suspected US drone attacks in the South Waziristan tribal district of Pakistan's troubled north-west, officials said. The latest strike targeted a vehicle in the Shawal area on the Afghan border, 45 kilometres west of the district's main town of Wana.
It is considered a stronghold of militant commander Maulvi Nazir, who has signed a peace deal with the government. Earlier, two attacks were carried out in Dana village in the Barmal area, targeting two mountain hideouts of alleged militants. "We have been informed that 16 people have been killed in the two strikes," an intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. Another security official said the victims included Punjabi Taliban of the Maulvi Nazir group and some foreigners.