Drone attack kills Haqqani leader

Islamabad: A senior leader of the Haqqani network, blamed for a string of deadly attacks in Afghanistan, was among three militants killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan`s North Waziristan tribal region today.

Jalil Haqqani, a close relative of Haqqani network leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, was among those killed, Pakistani intelligence officials were quoted as saying by CNN. The drone fired two missiles at a compound in a village north of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan Agency. Officials said Jalil was in charge of communications for the network.

The Afghan Taliban faction routinely targets US and allied forces in Afghanistan from its bases in North Waziristan. Jalil Haqqani was an Afghan national and operated between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the officials said. Today`s drone strike occurred close to the Haqqanis stronghold of Dande Darpa Khel village. The region is considered the group`s main safe haven along the Afghan border.

The US has blamed the Haqqani network for several high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, including a terrorist strike on the American Embassy in Kabul.