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Bombs Kill 15 In Pakistan

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The Associated Press

Published: March 8, 2009

ISLAMABAD - Three separate bombings killed 15 people in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, while authorities investigated reports that a pilotless U.S. drone crashed elsewhere in the militant-plagued region bordering Afghanistan.

The bombings, coming days after gunmen attacked Sri Lanka's visiting cricket team, were a fresh reminder of the militant threat in Pakistan, where Western leaders worry that a growing political feud could distract the government from tackling the extremists.

Al-Qaida and Taliban fighters are thought to use pockets of Pakistan's northwest as bases to plan attacks on U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. The U.S. has used drones to fire missile strikes against militants in the area, prompting protests from Pakistani officials who say the attacks fuel anti-American sentiment.

Saturday's reports of a drone crash came from Angoor Ada village in South Waziristan, a tribal area where the main Pakistani Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, is based.

The U.S. rarely discusses the missile operations, and the drones are thought to be operated by the CIA. Col. Greg Julian, the top U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan, declined to comment.

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