The wife of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mahsud was killed in the suspected U.S drone strike in northwestern Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal agency, local TV channels reported Wednesday.
TV reports said the drone hit the house of Akramuddin, father- in-law of Baitullah Mahsud whom the Pakistani army has been hunting, killing four people and injuring two others. Relatives said that Mahsud's wife was among the dead but there was no official confirmation.
Officials said that the drone destroyed the house. According to locals, several guests were also in the house when the attack was carried out.
The U.S. drone aircraft regularly attack hideouts of the militants in Pakistan's trial region. Militants believe that Pakistani authorities provide intelligence to the U.S. for drone attacks, but the government denied the claim.
The U.S has intensified drone attacks on the tribal regions despite Pakistan's protest at a time when the security forces are engaged in major offensive against Baitulalh Mahsud in South Waziristan.
Pakistan insists that drone attacks are counterproductive and must be stopped but U.S. officials have ruled out any change in the policy.
Pakistani officials say the drone strikes have killed more than 400 people in more than 40 attacks since August 2008.
(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2009)
