DHAKA: Amnesty International called on the US to investigate reports of civilians killed and wounded by CIA drone strikes in Pakistan in a report released on Tuesday that provided new details about the alleged victims of the attacks, including a 68-year-old grandmother hit while farming with her grandchildren.

Mamana Bibi’s grandchildren told the London-based rights group that she was killed by missile fire on October 24, 2012, as she was collecting vegetables in a family field in the North Waziristan tribal area, a major militant sanctuary near the Afghan border.

Three of Bibi’s grandchildren were wounded in the strike, as were several others who were nearby, the victims said.

The US considers its drone programme to be a key weapon against insurgent groups that it says stages crossborder forays into neighbouring Afghanistan.

But the belief, widespread in Pakistan, that the strikes kill large numbers of civilians sparks resentment and complicates the two countries’ ability to coordinate efforts against militants based in the country, including al-Qaida.

An even deadlier incident noted by the report – titled ‘Will I be next? US drone strikes in Pakistan’ – occurred in North Waziristan on July 6, 2012.

Witnesses said a volley of missiles hit a tent where a group of men had gathered for an evening meal after work, and then a second struck those who came to help the wounded, one of a number of attacks that have hit rescuers, the rights group said.

Witnesses and relatives said that total of 18 male labourers with no links to militant groups died, according to Amnesty, reports The Times of India.

Pakistani intelligence officials at the time identified the dead as suspected militants.

BDST: 1655 HRS, OCT 22, 2013
RoR/RK