U.S. forces bombed a remote village near the Pakistan/Afghanistan frontier January 13, killing at least 18. The bombing, the second attack in a week inside Pakistani territory, drew protests—a mobilization of 5,000 in Karachi (above), and rallies of hundreds in other cities. The U.S. military claimed al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri was the target of the attack, which was reportedly carried out by pilotless Predator drones. But he was not among the victims, which included several young children. Since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, U.S. forces, with the approval and aid of the Pakistani military and intelligence agencies, have carried out a wide-ranging war on both sides of the border targeting supporters of the former Afghani regime of the Taliban and their allies.

—PAUL PEDERSON  
 
 
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