Pakistani-made 'Burraq' drone kills several militants, destroys hideouts in NWA

RAWALPINDI: Several terrorists were killed when Pakistani-made 'Burraq' drone carried out an operation in North Waziristan tribal agency, the ISPR said on Thursday.

According to the military's public relations wing, the 'Burraq' drone fired missiles and destroyed several militant hideouts as well.

Sources added that it was the first night strike by Burraq with pinpoint accuracy.

The military successfully tested ‘Burraq’ (flying horse) and test-fired its laser-guided missile ‘Barq’ (lightning) in March this year.

Pakistan has long demanded armed drone and laser-guided missile technology from the United States, which has been running a controversial drone programme against militant hideouts in the northwestern tribal areas bordering Afghanistan since 2004.

Pakistan officially opposes the missile strikes by the US drones, terming them a violation of its territorial sovereignty and has long asked the US to give them the technology required to run their own programme.

The army has been battling terror groups in its semi-autonomous tribal belt since 2003, but stepped up its fight last June when it launched a major military offensive, Operation Zarb-e-Azb, against militancy and terrorism in the country.