Several militants from Punjab province were among the 48 Taliban insurgents killed in two US drone attacks in Pakistan's volatile South Waziristan tribal region, reports said on Thursday.
In the first attack, a drone fired six missiles at a militant training camp at Karwan Manza near Ladha, a stronghold of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud, last morning. The training facility was completely destroyed.
Media reports on Thursday said three Taliban militants from southern Punjab province were among the nine insurgents killed in the attack. Five militants were also injured in the strike.
At least 40 militants were killed in the second attack on a militant convoy last afternoon. Reports said the attack was carried out by three drones, which fired at least five missiles at the convoy.
A group of militants from Mehsud's group was going from Ladha to Sararogha in five vehicles. All the vehicles were destroyed. Three cars were carrying local tribal militants and there were Punjabi militants in the two other vehicles.
On Tuesday, some 16 militants were killed when a drone targeted a militant compound in South Waziristan.