Pakistan's Indigenous Armed Drone Kills 3 Militants

Pakistan on Monday has killed three militants using its first home-made unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) in Shawal Valley.

“First ever use of Pakistani made Buraq drone today. A terrorist compound was hit in Shawal Valley, killing three terrorists,” DG ISPR Asim Bajwa tweeted on the micro-blogging website.

Pakistan used the remotely-piloted aircraft ‘Burraq’ and laser-guided missile ‘Burq’ that were tested on March 14 for the covert operation. The UCAV has been used in live combat against militants in th Tirah valley prior to public display, Pakistani news daily, the Express Tribune reported.

A ground offensive was launched by Pakistan Army in North Waziristan Agency’s mountainous Shawal Valley last month as it is considered as the last refuge of fleeing home-grown militants and their foreign unit.

The military has increased operations since May in the deeply forested ravines of the Shawal Valley that straddles North and South Waziristan agencies along the border with Afghanistan and softened militant targets in the valley through continued airstrikes, the daily reported.

The forested ravines of Shawal Valley and Datta Khel are smuggling routes between Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan. They are dotted with militant bases used as launch pads for attacks on Pakistani forces.