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March 18, 2011

Up to 40 Pakistani Civilians Killed in U.S. Drone Strike 
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The CIA has carried out one of its deadliest drone attack on civilians
in Pakistan to date. Up to to 40 people were killed Thursday after
missiles struck a public meeting, or jirga, in North Waziristan. The
victims had assembled to resolve a dispute with the Taliban over a local
mine. In a statement, the head of the Pakistani military issued a rare
condemnation of the United States, saying "peaceful citizens, including
elders of the area, were carelessly and callously targeted with complete
disregard to human life." The United States is maintaining all victims
were militants. A U.S. official told the New York Times: "These people
weren't gathering for a bake sale. They were terrorists."



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