The Pakistani government accused the US of sabotaging peace talks with domestic Taliban fighters by killing their leader in a drone strike, as the militants began the process of choosing a successor.

Intelligence officials and militant commanders say the Pakistani Taliban are meeting to choose a new leader after their chief was killed in a US drone strike.

Troops backed by helicopter gunships and artillery pounded militant positions in north-west Pakistan, killing 60 fighters and wounding many others, the military said today.