ISLAMABAD: The US campaign of drone strikes in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt is terrorizing civilians 24 hours a day and breeding bitter anti-American sentiment, researchers said yesterday.

The attacks in northwest Pakistan, where militants linked to Taleban and Al-Qaeda have strongholds, have killed thousands of people since they began in June 2004, according to the report by experts from Stanford Law School and the New York University School of Law.

Aside from casualties, the “Living Under Drones” report said, the missile strikes are affecting daily life in the tribal areas, making people unwilling to gather in groups and even stopping their children going to school for fear of being targeted.

After attacks, rescuers are unwilling to help the wounded for fear of being hit by follow-up missiles, said the report commissioned by UK-based charity Reprieve, which campaigns against drone strikes.