US fires off new warning in Pakistan

By Syed Saleem Shahzad
Asia Times
Feb 5, 2010

ISLAMABAD – With its biggest drone attack to date in Pakistan, the United States has sent a clear message of its renewed determination to destroy Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries in the Pakistan and Afghanistan border areas.

Pakistan government officials say that nine unmanned US drones on Tuesday evening fired 19 missiles on Dattakhel village in the Degan area of North Waziristan, across from the Afghan province of Khost, killing at least 31 people and injuring many more.

Security officials who spoke to Asia Times Online say the prime target is believed to have been Afghan Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani.

“The extraordinary high-profile attack through a barrage of drone strikes was the result of a recent surge in intelligence all along the border regions,â€