US defends Mehsud's killing amidst admitting tensions with Pak

The US has reportedly admitted to tensions with Pakistan but defended its killing of the Tehreek-e-Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud in the drone strike carried out last week.

Pakistan views the killing of Mehsud as a hindrance to the nation's efforts in tackling the long standing issue of terrorism through peace talks, and summoned the US Ambassador Richard G. Olson to the Foreign Office to formally protest the attack.

White House spokesman Jay Carney admitted that there will be inevitably some tensions and misunderstandings between the US and Pakistan, however, America will continue to make progress in the relationship, Dawn reports.

The report said that Carney did not confirm the drone strike that killed Mehsud, in line with normal practice in such attacks, but said that the TTP leader had a long list of extremist credentials, including a failed bombing in Times Square, New York, in 2010.

Carney further revealed that Mehsud and his associates had publicly vowed to continue targeting the United States and Americans.

Meanwhile, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said that the Pakistani government and the armed forces were 'slaves of America' and there was now no scope for a peace dialogue with them.