Article Posted on : - Sep 24, 2008

ISLAMABAD: A suspected US drone crashed Tuesday night in Pakistan's tribal areas bordering Afghanistan where American military strikes have sparked tension. The Pakistan army said it was investigating whether the UAV was shot down or crashed, a media report said.

Confirming the crash of the US predator drone in Angoor Adda area of South Waziristan, the Pakistan Army spokesman was quoted by The News as saying it crashed apparently due to malfunctioning.

Though the army said the drone crashed, local residents said it might have been shot down.

"The wreckage of the UAV has been recovered from the site by the security personnel and the matter is under detailed investigation," the army spokesman said in a statement.

It did not say who the drone belongs to but security official citing anonymity said it was an American aircraft.

The Pentagon, the paper said, had no report of any crash, while the CIA declined to comment.

The incident comes just two days after Pakistani officials said that their troops had opened fire to drive back two US helicopter gunships that had crossed into Pakistani airspace in neighbouring North Waziristan.

The site of the drone crash in South Waziristan was a scene of the first ever officially acknowledged special operations hit by US-led coalition forces which left 15 dead including some key al Qaeda operators. Pakistan lodged strong protest over the incident.(PTI)