US drone attack in North Waziristan; 7 dead

At least seven militants, including four foreign fighters, were killed in a US drone attack in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region where the military is currently engaged in an all-out offensive against Taliban insurgents.

A security official said that the pilotless US aircraft fired two missiles at a house and a vehicle in Madakhel village of Dattakhel sub division of the tribal region.

"The initial reports said that seven people were killed and three injured in the attack," he said.

Another official said that four of the killed were foreign militants. He did not give their nationalities but Dattakhel is stronghold of Haqqani network run by Afghan rebels.

Pakistan launched a full-fledged military offensive last month to clear the district of al-Qaeda linked local and foreign militants.

It was second drone attack since start of Zarb-e-Azb operation on June 15. Earlier, six militants were killed in a US drone attack on June 18 near Miranshah.

It is the third round of drone strikes to hit the area since the US resumed the campaign following a six-month lull.

The US had stopped its drone programme in December to give Pakistan time to pursue peace talks with the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP).

But the talks failed and military launched the operation to flush out militants from the region following a deadly attack on Karachi international airport that left 39 people dead.

Pakistan opposes the US attack as violation of its sovereignty.