Another drone attack killed 15 in Pakistan

A suspected U.S. missile strike destroyed an Afghan Taliban camp in northwestern Pakistan and killed 12 people Monday, a day after the militants' local affiliates announced a ceasefire, officials said.

Separately, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood QureshiShah Mehmood Qureshi said in an interview with CNN International that the U.S. should rethink such attacks "if the disadvantages outweigh the advantages."

On Monday at least one missile fired by a suspected U.S. drone aircraft struck the Taliban compound in Bhagan, a mountain stronghold for the hard-line movement that is waging a fierce insurgency across the border in Afghanistan.

"One missile fired by a suspected U.S. drone destroyed the Taliban center," said a top Pakistani security official.

"There are 12 dead," said another security official. An earlier estimate had put the death toll at 10.

It was the first suspected U.S. drone attack in Kurram, one of seven semi- autonomous tribal areas in Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan, where the Taliban are fighting U.S.-led, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Western- backed Afghan forces.

An intelligence official said that there were multiple Taliban camps in the area, and that Afghan Taliban fighters had used the Bhagan compound as a hideout.

One security official said at least four foreigners were killed. Another official said most of those killed where Afghan Taliban.

In a CNN International interview, a transcript of which was distributed Monday, Foreign Minister Qureshi - asked about the U.S. drone issue - said he understood the new administration in Washington to be reviewing its strategy.

"Pakistan's input, whether it's on drones or other areas, should be incorporated into that strategy review," he said.

"In my view, if the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, then there is a case to rethink about these drone attacks," Qureshi said in the interview.

He said "collateral damage" caused alienation among the population, adding, " Until and unless you have the local people with you, you cannot succeed."

On Saturday, at least 27 mainly Al Qaeda foreign operatives were killed in a suspected U.S. missile strike that destroyed a major Taliban training camp of top commander Baitullah Mehsud near the Afghan border.

Tribal areas in northwestern Pakistan have been wracked by violence since hundreds of Taliban and Al Qaeda rebels sought refuge in the region after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan toppled the Taliban regime in late 2001.

Washington has refused to acknowledge conducting missile strikes in Pakistan. However, last week Sen. Dianne FeinsteinSen. Dianne Feinstein said U.S. drones used to strike suspected insurgents in the country take off and land from a base in Pakistan.

Pakistan rejects U.S. and Afghan accusations that the government isn't doing enough to crack down on militants, who wage attacks across the border.