Taliban Leader Vows To Target America After Missile Strike

By Associated Press
May 16, 2008

KHAR, Pakistan — A top Taliban leader vowed yesterday to target the U.S. after an alleged missile strike killed several people in northwest Pakistan, a threat that could undermine the new government's efforts to negotiate peace deals with militants.

Blasts destroyed a compound Wednesday in Damadola village, a militant stronghold in the Bajur tribal region near the Afghanistan border. A similar attack in 2006 reportedly missed Al Qaeda's no. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri.

The governor of the turbulent North West Frontier Province condemned the incident as an "attack on the sovereignty of Pakistan" that would hamper the country's efforts against terrorism. He said the dead included an 8-year-old boy.

Residents said they saw an American aircraft flying in the area before two explosions rocked the village. America, which has not commented on the incident, is believed to operate unmanned drones out of Afghanistan.

A cleric and deputy leader of Pakistan's Taliban movement, Faqir Mohammed, vowed revenge after attending a funeral for seven men who were said to have been killed.

"America martyred our people, and the blood of our brothers will not go to waste," Mr. Mohammed said. "God willing, we will avenge it by targeting America."

Later yesterday, several thousand protesters attended rallies called by Islamist political parties in Damadola and Khar, Bajur's main town. Demonstrators chanted "Death to America" and slogans against Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf.

The alleged missile strike could embarrass Pakistan's new government, which is trying to pursue peace deals with militants. The negotiations have stirred alarm in America, which long backed Mr. Musharraf's more forceful tactics. Western officials worry that such deals may simply give militants time to regroup and plan attacks in Afghanistan and the West.

A Taliban spokesman, Maulvi Umar, has said the movement will continue fighting in Afghanistan despite any peace deal it might reach in Pakistan. Both countries have suffered from a series of militant attacks.

Responding to the latest incident, Mr. Umar said "we will avenge this but will continue talks with the government."

The explosions were thought to be the first such attack since the new government took power six weeks ago. A spate of strikes in March killed at least 25 people in the border region, fueling speculation that Mr. Musharraf, whose allies then led the government, gave tacit approval to U.S. forces targeting foreign militants inside Pakistan.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammed Sadiq, said yesterday he was "not aware" of any such approval. Pakistan insists it does not allow U.S. forces to operate on its territory.