Pakistan condemns US strike near Afghan border

Islamabad: Pakistan condemned a suspected US missile strike that killed 13 people near the Afghan border and indicated that American's new general for the region is pressing on with attacks on Taliban and Al Qaida targets in Pakistani territory.

A surge in US cross-border attacks since August has angered Pakistani officials who say the raids are violating the nuclear-armed country's sovereignty and undermining its own anti-terror war in the border region.

"The US administration's reluctance to consider the repercussions of such operations is damaging the whole purpose of global efforts to combat terrorism," Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman said.

Rehman said in a statement late on Friday that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was urging Washington to halt the attacks. It was unclear if Zardari raised the matter in an overnight telephone call with US President-elect Barack Obama.

Repairing strained ties while keeping pressure on militants hiding in the lawless frontier area will be a key challenge for Obama when he takes office in January.

Friday's attack by an unmanned plane took place in Kam Sam village in the North Waziristan region, a stronghold of militants blamed for killing US troops in Afghanistan and suicide blasts within Pakistan.