The head of the CIA has claimed that almost all terrorist threats facing the US now originate in lawless Pakistani tribal areas, adding that Osama bin Laden is becoming increasingly isolated from the day-to-day running of al-Qaeda.

As 12 people were killed by another suspected cross-border American raid targeting Pakistan-based militants, Michael Hayden, the CIA director, told a Washington think tank last night that terror threats against America could invariably be traced back to the Pakistani tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.

Hours after he spoke, another suspected US missile attack killed 12 people in Pakistan, including five foreigners. US missile strikes are hugely controversial in Pakistan, with Islamabad claiming they fuel anti-American extremist groups.

“Let me be very clear,” he said. “Today, virtually every major terrorist threat that my agency is aware of has threads back to the tribal areas. Whether it’s command and control, training, direction, money, capabilities, there is a connection to the FATA [Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas].”

The intelligence head did not refer openly to American missile strikes, or a commando raid in South Waziristan on September 3, which marked the first time the question of US ground forces on Pakistani territory has been raised, but he confirmed that US resources were still concentrated on the area.

Today’s missile attack was concentrated in an area known as a stronghold of Pakistani Taleban commander Baitullah Mehsud according to paramilitary officials. It was unclear if the dead foreigners included Arabs, who often signify an al-Qaeda presence.

Officials said that the attack targeted a house in a remote village on the border between North and South Waziristan, where Mehsud, an al-Qaeda ally, has been cornered by Pakistani forces since early this year.

According to security sources, US forces have intensified missile attacks by pilotless drones since early September, as they grow frustrated by fighters from Pakistan fuelling the Taleban insurgency in Afghanistan and there are fears of al-Qaeda regrouping.

Pakistan has condemned the violations of its territory with Islamabad arguing that the attacks fuel anger towards the United States and impede the government’s own efforts to garner people’s support for the campaign against militancy.

President Asif Ali Zardari told CBS News in an interview aired overnight: “It’s undermining my sovereignty and it’s not helping win the ... hearts and minds of people.”

Mr Zardari, whose eight-month-old civilian government is desperate for financial support to avert an economic meltdown, denied media speculation Pakistan had secretly agreed a deal with the United States to allow missile strikes, and said more cooperation was needed.

in his speech to the Atlantic Council think tank last night, the head of the CIA added that the pursuit of Osama bin Laden was continuing, but that the al-Qaeda leader appears increasingly isolated from his organisation.

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