On Friday Pakistan’s military chief ruled out a “joint” US-Pakistan invasion of the North Waziristan Agency, and also seemed to downplay the possibility of a unilateral offensive any time soon. The US has been pounding the agency ever since.

 

At least 17 people have been reported killed, all of them listed as “suspected militants” in media reports, in three separate attacks during the past 24 hours. An overnight attack killed 10, while our were killed in an attack on a two vehicles in Mana Gribz this morning, and three more killed in an attack on a house this afternoon.

None of the people killed in any of the three strikes have been named, but the victims of the second strike were described as suspected Haqqani Network members while those killed in the third strike were said to have ties to Hafiz Gul.

Pakistan has repeatedly demanded an end to US drone strikes against its territory, saying that the attacks are producing more enemies than they are eliminating. Major anti-US protests are a common occurrence in Pakistani cities, with many demanding the Zardari government limit ties in protest against the attacks.