Zawahri not among dead in US airstrike

Pakistan condemned on Saturday an airstrike on a village near the Afghan border that US Intelligence sources say was aimed at killing al Qae...

Pakistan condemned on Saturday an airstrike on a village near the Afghan border that US Intelligence sources say was aimed at killing al Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri.

The government regretted the loss of civilian lives, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said. Tribesmen in Damadola village in the Bajaur tribal agency said 18 of their kinfolk were killed by the airstrike early on Friday morning, while a senior Pakistani government official said Zawahri was not in the village at the time.

‘‘We want to assure the people we will not allow such an incident to reoccur,’’ Ahmed said, reading a statement which termed the attack as ‘‘highly condemnable.’’

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Pakistan also summoned the US Ambassador to protest against the airstrike. ‘‘The US Ambassador will be called to the foreign office,’’ said Ahmed, adding a protest would be lodged over the attack on Friday in which, according to residents, 18 civilians were killed.

Meanwhile, Zawahri is alive, Al Arabiya television reported, quoting a source which it said has contact with al Qaeda.

‘‘A source with contacts with al Qaeda reiterated to Arabiya that Zawahri is alive,’’ Al Arabiya said.

‘‘Reports of his death are wishful thinking,’’ it quoted unnamed sources as saying. No further details were given.

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The US has offered $25 million each for Zawahri and al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who have been on the run since US-led forces toppled Afghanistan’s Taliban government in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks .

They are believed to have been hiding along the border under the protection of Pashtun tribes.