Pakistan blasts US drone strike in territory

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Wednesday condemned a US drone strike in its North Waziristan tribal region, which killed at least eight people.

Security sources said the US spy aircraft fired missiles on a house at Datta Khel area in North Waziristan early on morning.

Some reports said those killed were Uzbek militants.

"The government of Pakistan condemns the incident of US drone strike that took place in Datta Khel, North Waziristan on Wednesday, 24 September," the foreign ministry said.

"Pakistan regards such strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity," a ministry's statement said.

It said the government of Pakistan believes that with the decisive action being taken against terrorist elements in North Waziristan, there is no need for such strikes.

"We, therefore, urge for a cessation of such strikes," the foreign ministry said.

Several militant groups are hiding in the region where the military is engaged in a major offensive.

There was a lull in the drone strikes in North Waziristan for few months, however, the strikes started as the military launched the military operation in June.