Pakistani jets killed 12 suspected militants in South Waziristan on Thursday, a day after suspected US missile strikes killed up to 45 insurgents in twin strikes in the stronghold of Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud, intelligence officials said. The convergence of US and Pakistani interests against Mehsud suggests the two uneasy allies are cooperating in the US missile strikes, making it harder for Islamabad to protest them publicly as it has in the past. The jets pounded suspected Taleban hideouts in four villages Thursday in Ladha and Kani Guram areas of the South Waziristan tribal region, near the Afghan border, four intelligence officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to media. American drones are believed to have carried out more than 45 attacks in the border area since August. Although most have targeted foreign al-Qaida militants and those accused of violence in Afghanistan, increasingly they are aimed at the Mehsud network. American officials do not acknowledge the attacks, which are carried out by unmanned planes. AP __
