ISLAMABAD —

The top U.S. diplomat for South Asia held talks Sunday with Pakistani officials after a series of US missile strikes into Pakistan’s tribal regions have strained bilateral relations, officials said.

Ties between the “war on terror” allies were also tested when U.S. special forces deployed in Afghanistan launched a raid into Pakistan on Sept 3 that killed several Pakistanis.

The visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher was for “routine talks planned in advance” U.S. embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said.

“He is going to meet a variety of Pakistani officials and representatives of civil society,” he said, without giving further details.

Boucher on Saturday met interior ministry chief Rehman Malik for discussions Pakistan officials afterward described as “very cordial and friendly.”

The United States has stepped up attacks on militants in Pakistan since a new civilian government came to power in Islamabad in March.

The U.S. says insurgents striking at international troops in Afghanistan use the Pakistani tribal regions as a base for their operations.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has vowed zero tolerance against violations of his country’s sovereignty amid the missile attacks, which have stoked anti-US sentiment in Pakistan.

Pakistan is facing major economic problems as well as rising attacks by al-Qaida-linked Taliban militants, and has been seeking support from allies to stabilize the country.

Pakistani fighter jets bombed a militant hide-out in restive northwestern Swat valley on Sunday, killing a rebel commander and destroying an ammunition dump, officials said.

The airstrike in the Matta district of Swat killed a senior fighter closely associated with pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Fazlullah, a security official said.

“According to reports received by us, commander Alamgir has been killed in the airstrike and several other casualties are likely because ammunition at their hide-out exploded,” the official said.

“It was a militant den. We cannot confirm casualties immediately.”

The official said that intelligence reports had indicated a large militant gathering in the area, a stronghold of extremists loyal to Fazlullah, who has declared a jihad or holy war against the government.

The mountainous Swat valley was until last year a popular tourist destination where many Pakistani city dwellers went for their annual holidays and it featured Pakistan’s only ski resort.

But the region has been turned into a battleground since Fazlullah launched a violent campaign to enforce Islamic Sharia law.

Security officials said that airstrikes on Friday killed 60 pro-Taliban fighters and destroyed a training camp also in the Swat valley.

Wire reports

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7 Comments

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  Yuukorin at 06:37 PM JST - 19th October

  Do as you like US, no one is going to stop you in the near future.

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  adaydream at 09:32 PM JST - 19th October

  The fact remains, the United States was/is firing missiles and rockets into Pakistan. Pakistan has already given the United States several warning and been told to cease their aggressive actions. < :-)

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  rjd_jr at 09:56 PM JST - 19th October

  I guess 'shock and awe' was over, like 'mission accomplished.' Just keep bombing.

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  Sarge at 10:01 PM JST - 19th October

  Heck, just wait until President Obama orders massive military action in Pakistan. I am sure he would not go back on his promise.

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  coulrophobic at 10:15 PM JST - 19th October

  Pakistan is a failed apartheid state basically gerrymandered into existence by the same imperialists who created Canada and New Zealand.

  As usual the US has to clean up after.

  I reckon Obama will bomb within weeks of taking office. Look at how he dissed them in the debates and called their country Pah-ki-stahn.

  Remember also - the usual chorus of wackos like Mhoumar Kkhaddaffi have insisted Obama is Muslim. There will be renewed and much more vocal assertions of this if and when he is inaugurated.

  So, taking a page from Clinton, Obama will pick this unfortunate third world disaster of Islamic social engineering to show his critics he is alpha male enough to be president.

  You can be sure though that they will by then have come up with a genuinely spiffy euphemism for it.

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  YangYong at 10:37 PM JST - 19th October

  Why would you be concerned about military action 'sarge' not like you're gonna be involved. Still no stones for putting money where mouth is aye?

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  OgieDoggie at 02:16 AM JST - 21st October

  If your going to pick a country to hide in why doesn't the Taliban pick like say Swiss Alps or the French Rivera...some place nice for a change. Am sure it would boost the moral of their troops at least.

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