CIA Secretly Ramps Up Drone Hits on Pakistan

A Reuters report that two US drone strikes killed 18 people in Pakistan today could become a common refrain: The CIA has significantly increased its drone attacks in the country over the last month, thanks to a secret diversion of weapons from the US military in Afghanistan, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move comes as tensions with Pakistan are at a dangerous high.

The CIA has apparently concluded that Pakistan is either unable or unwilling to take out al-Qaeda safe havens. The agency drone strikes are technically covert operations, the Journal explains, because the US military is forbidden to conduct operations in Pakistan. The distinction allows Pakistan's government to officially deny any knowledge. Part of the recent increase is because of reports of a major terror plot being hatched in the country.