At least four terrorists killed in US airstrike on Pakistani village

AT least four foreign terrorists died in the purported US airstrike aimed at al-Qaida’s number two leader in a Pakistani border village, the provincial government said yesterday.

The Bush administration, meanwhile, called Pakistan a valued ally in the war on terror yesterday and pledged to continue pursuing al-Qaida leaders amid concerns that the airstrike has strained ties between the two countries and could provoke more anti-American sentiment.

The statement issued by the administration of Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal regions bordering Afghanistan also said that between 10 and 12 foreign extremists had been invited to a dinner at the village hit in Friday’s attack.