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Suspected drone attacks kills 8 in Pakistan

  • Story Highlights
  • U.S. missile suspected in drone attack
  • Strike happened in Orakzai Agency in northwestern Pakistan
  • U.S. military routinely offers no comment on reported cross-border strikes
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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- A suspected U.S. missile strike killed eight people in in the violence-plagued tribal region in northwestern Pakistan Wednesday, a local political official said.

The strike occurred in the Orakzai Agency, one of seven regions that make up the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the border with Afghanistan. Pakistani and U.S. officials have reported a presence of militants in the region.

The official, Basir Orakzai, said some victims of the attack were trapped under rubble.

It is the first suspected U.S. missile strike in the Orakzai Agency, based on a CNN tally.

The U.S-led coalition and NATO -- based in Afghanistan -- have been seeking a way to effectively battle militants who are launching attacks from the swath of tribal areas along the border.

They have become frustrated with Islamabad over the years, saying it is not being proactive enough against militants -- a claim Pakistan denies.

The United States is the only country operating in the region known to have the capability to launch missiles from drones, which are controlled remotely.

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The attacks, which have claimed dozens of lives, have angered many Pakistani officials.

The U.S. military in Afghanistan routinely offers no comment on reported cross-border strikes.

CNN's Reza Sayah contributed to this report.

All About PakistanWar and ConflictTerrorism

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