Pakistani provincial authorities said today four or five foreign terrorists were killed in last week's US missile strike that has strained relations with the Muslim nation that is a key ally in President George Bush's war on terror.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, on the eve of a trip to Washington, said that despite the importance of ties with the US, attacks inside Pakistan "cannot be condoned.''

"Pakistan has committed to fighting terrorism but naturally we cannot accept any action within our country which results in what happened over the weekend,'' Aziz said, referring to the missile strike on Friday in the border village of Damadola.

Eighteen local people, including women and children, were also killed.