US drone strike kills Baitullah Mehsud's wife

Karachi, Aug. 5 (ANI): Pak-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's wife was killed by a US missile strike in Pakistan's South Waziristan on Wednesday, Pakistani military officials said.

Although Mehsud's aides didn't confirm the report, they admitted that a woman was killed in Pakistan's tribal region.

He added that Mehsud was not in the house at that time," The Nation reports.

The Nation quoted two intelligence and one army official, as saying that the strike had destroyed the home of Mehsud's father-in-law, Akramuddin, and one of Mehsud's two wives had been killed.

"I think they seem to have good intelligence; there is no doubt about it. They are closing in, and they are keeping the pressure on these people," said political analyst and retired Pakistani army Lieutenant General Talat Masood.

Pakistan's air force and the military have carried out several attacks targeting Mehsud, and the army has said it is preparing for a major offensive against Mehsud and his network in the tribal region.

Masood said it was likely that the military wanted to concentrate on clearing up militants still active in and around the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan.

"At the moment, I don't think it has any desire or intention of launching a full-fledged attack in South Waziristan. I feel they are wanting to contain them instead of having a full-fledged attack," Masood said.

Wednesday morning's attack was the latest in a series of suspected U.S. missile strikes targeting Mehsud. (ANI)