US bombing in Pakistan hits record high

The CIA has significantly stepped up its bombing in Pakistan in recent weeks, carrying out at least 20 non-UN-sanctioned attacks in September.

US officials said on Wednesday that the 20 drone attacks were the highest monthly figure so far.

Reports say that the drone strikes reflect Washington’s frustration with Islamabad’s failure to wipe out militants in the country’s tribal areas.

On Tuesday, two separate non-UN-sanctioned cross-border attacks by US troops in Pakistan killed at least nine people and injured several others. All the causalities were civilians.

The drone attacks, which were initiated by former US president George W. Bush and have continued under President Barack Obama, have drastically increased in recent weeks at a time when devastating floods have taken their toll on the South Asian country.

Tuesday’s developments come one day after two helicopters operated by the US forces in Afghanistan crossed into Pakistan’s volatile tribal areas, killing at least 50 people.

In a similar incident, US forces killed more than 30 people on Friday.

Islamabad has reacted angrily to the air strikes, calling them a violation of its sovereignty.