A missile believed to be fired by the United States military struck North Waziristan today, killing as many as 18 Pakistanis. President Zardari and other Pakistani officials have requested control over missile strikes, but the Obama administration has refused the request multiple times.

In March, President Obama referred to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan as “an Afghanistan-Pakistan issue”. Multiple missiles have been fired into northwestern Pakistan, a continuation of policy begun during the Bush administration. CNN reports that today’s attack is believed to be the 11th missile attack on Pakistan in about 90 days.

Separately today, two suicide bombers struck in attacks on checkpoints in North Wazirstan and Islamabad. The Islamabad checkpoint bombing killed six after a man approached the checkpoint on foot and detonated explosives. The second attack occurred despite Pakistani military forces firing on a truck carrying explosive devices.

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The force of the blast caused the building to collapse.  Rescuers are still finding their way through the rubble for injured survivors.

The International Herald Tribune said that the blast occured amid news that Taliban leaders now in Pakistan were coordinating efforts with those in Afghanistan to counter increased U.S. military presence in the country.

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