There were unconfirmed reports earlier this year that the ageing and infirm Haqqani had died, but his son Sirajuddin has emerged as a major militant leader in his place. "A drone was flying very low and fired the missile. It destroyed three houses," a resident of Dandi Darpakheil village told Reuters. "I have seen human flesh scattered all over the area near the houses."
The villager requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, as drone attacks are typically used and launched by US forces across the border in Afghanistan. The military does not possess drones, and it has not acknowledged past strikes by US drones as it would go against the government's stated policy that no foreign forces are allowed to operate in Pakistani territory.
The Pentagon said the US military did not carry out the strike. "There was no indication that there was any US military asset," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said after speaking with US military officials in Afghanistan. "Every indication was that there was no US military involvement in this activity that you've seen."
Asked if the strike could have been launched by aircraft owned by another US agency, such as an intelligence agency, Whitman said he did not speak for other agencies. "I only talk for the United States military," he said. The US does not usually acknowledge making any strikes in order not to embarrass its ally. Security forces are bearing the brunt of a suicide bomb campaign because of President Pervez Musharraf's support for the war on terrorism. The latest explosion rocked Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, two kilometres away. "It shook Miranshah. Many people came out of their shops in panic," one of man said.
Six wounded men were admitted to Miranshah's main hospital. Military spokesman confirmed there had been no Pakistani action and offered no explanation for the cause of the explosion. "I have heard there was an explosion in a house, but we didn't carry out any action," Major-General Waheed Arshad said. The strike coincided with a visit to Islamabad by the head of the US Central Command Admiral William Fallon, who held talks with Musharraf on Friday.