Source: Reuters

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A pilotless U.S drone aircraft crashed in the northwestern Pakistani region of South Waziristan on Tuesday but it was not clear why it came down, Pakistani news channels reported.

U.S. forces have launched a string of attacks with missiles fired by drones, and one ground assault, on militant targets in northwestern Pakistan in recent weeks infuriating the U.S. ally which says the attacks are a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.

The drone came down near the border village of Angor Adda, where U.S. commandos launched a ground assault on Sept. 3 that Pakistani officials said killed 20 people, including women and children.

A Pakistani intelligence official in the region said he had no information but he had heard claims from a Taliban faction a drone had been shot down on the Afghan side of the border.

Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. President George W. Bush said visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari had spoken strongly about protecting Pakistani sovereignty.

Bush did not address the strikes.

“Your words have been very strong about Pakistan’s sovereign right and sovereign duty to protect your country, and the United States wants to help,” Bush said before meeting Zardari in New York.

Pakistan’s support is regarded as crucial to the success of Western forces trying to stabilise Afghanistan, and in the fight against al Qaeda.

But U.S. impatience has grown over what it sees as Pakistan’s failure to eliminate the militant threat on its side of the Afghan border.

Pakistanis were outraged by the Sept 3 commando raid, the first known ground assault by U.S. troops into Pakistan, and the six-month-old civilian government issued a diplomatic protest.

General Ashfaq Kayani said foreign troops would not be allowed on Pakistani soil and Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be defended at all costs.

Pakistani troops fired on two U.S. helicopters that crossed the border at the same village, Angor Adda, a week ago, forcing them to turn back, according to residents and security officers.

Pakistan and the United States issued denials.

Pakistani troops fired on two U.S. helicopters that intruded into Pakistani airspace on Sunday night, again forcing them to turn back to Afghanistan, a senior Pakistani security official said.

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Tags: crash, South Waziristan, U.S drone