Pakistan drone missile strike kills five

A suspected US drone missile strike has killed five people in a militant haven in north-west Pakistan, near the Afghan border, intelligence officials said today.

Four missiles struck a house near Mir Ali town in North Waziristan, the Pakistani officials said.

The area is home to several al Qaida-linked and other militant groups.

The US says one of the area’s groups – the Haqqani network, which focuses on attacks against US troops and Nato allies – is among the biggest threats to peace in Afghanistan.

Washington relies on the drone strikes in the absence of a Pakistani military operation in the region.

Pakistani residents view the drone programme as an affront to their sovereignty.