The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan on Wednesday registered "a strong protest" with Washington's ambassador to Islamabad over a number of missile attacks by US drones inside its territory, the foreign ministry said.

"The US ambassador was called to the Foreign Office today and a strong protest was lodged on the continued missile attacks by US drones inside Pakistani territory," the ministry said in a statement. There have been a total of 16 US missile strikes against suspected extremist hideouts in the Pakistani tribal regions since August 13 this year, according to an AFP tally. The attacks have sharply raised tensions between Washington and its key ally in its "war on terror" against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

"It was underscored to the ambassador (Anne Patterson) that the government of Pakistan strongly condemns the missile attacks which resulted in the loss of precious lives and property," the foreign ministry statement added.

"It was emphasised that such attacks were a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and should be stopped immediately. The attacks also undermine public support for the government's counter-terrorism efforts."

The most recent strike took place on Sunday evening, killing a top Taliban commander and at least 15 other people in the South Waziristan region, Pakistani officials said.

Haji Omar Khan was a lieutenant of the veteran Afghan Taliban chieftain and former anti-Soviet fighter Jalaluddin Haqqani, who was close to Mullah Omar, the leader of the 1996-2001 Taliban regime in Afghanistan.