Suspected U.S. drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan

Pakistani officials say a suspected U.S. drone missile strike has killed at least 15 militants. Authorities say the toll could rise. Sunday's attack took place in the Shaktoi area of Pakistan's restive South Waziristan region. Suspected U.S. drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan The pilotless drone strikes are a source of friction between the United States and Pakistan, which sees them as a violation of its sovereignty. But Washington says they are an effective weapon in remote tribal areas. Pakistani Taliban militants issued a new audio recording Saturday they said proved their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, survived a suspected U.S. missile strike earlier in the week. Pakistani intelligence sources had said Mehsud was wounded in the missile strike that killed at least 12 suspected militants. The United States has increased attacks using pilotless drones since a suicide bomber killed seven U.S. intelligence agents in eastern Afghanistan in late December.

Suspected U.S. drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan

The pilotless drone strikes are a source of friction between the United States and Pakistan, which sees them as a violation of its sovereignty. But Washington says they are an effective weapon in remote tribal areas.

Pakistani Taliban militants issued a new audio recording Saturday they said proved their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, survived a suspected U.S. missile strike earlier in the week.

Pakistani intelligence sources had said Mehsud was wounded in the missile strike that killed at least 12 suspected militants.

The United States has increased attacks using pilotless drones since a suicide bomber killed seven U.S. intelligence agents in eastern Afghanistan in late December.