MAMOUZAI (AFP) - A Pakistani Taliban commander has vowed to increase attacks on NATO and US forces in Afghanistan and block their supply lines through Pakistan's tribal areas. Militant leader Hakeemullah also threatened to target President Asif Ali Zardari and his allies, as well as saying his fighters would attack Pakistan army troops because they continue to conduct operations against his followers. Hakeemullah is a lieutenant of Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan who was accused by the previous government and US intelligence of masterminding the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto last year. "We will increase attacks on the NATO and US forces based in Afghanistan and the supply of goods from Pakistan to these forces," Hakeemullah told reporters taken on a rare trip to the group's stronghold in Aurakzai tribal region. The journalists were escorted from the city of Peshawar to the rebels' hideout on Tuesday, travelling more than eight hours to meet the Taliban leader at Mamouzai in country's lawless northwest. The AFP journalist on the trip said he saw no law enforcement officials for the final half of the journey to the hideout deep in the mountainous area. "We will not lay down arms as long as Pakistan's army does not stop operations against us," Hakeemullah said, adding that his chief, Mehsud, head of the outlawed TTP movement, was in good health. It was recently reported that Mehsud was seriously ill but independent verification of his condition has not been possible. Hakeemullah said his fighters would target political leaders in Pakistan. "We will also carry out attacks against the Pakistan People's Party (led by Zardari) and Awami National Party leadership," he said. While journalists were at Mamouzai a US spy plane appeared overhead, prompting about 60 Taliban fighters on the ground to open fire at the aircraft but no damage was done to the aircraft. Hakeemullah condemned the more than 20 US missile attacks over the past few months against militant targets in the rugged tribal territory bordering Afghanistan, saying "such strikes only strengthen our resolve to continue our jihad." Pakistan has officially protested to the United States that the strikes violate its sovereign territory, although some officials say there was a tacit understanding between the two militaries to allow such action. "We have killed around a dozen people who were spying for the United States and our enemies and we will continue to kill spies," Hakeemullah said. Asked why his group has attacked tribal people and mosques, Hakeemullah said they were targeted because of their alliance with Pakistani and US forces. "Suicide and other attacks on tribal people and their places where they plan action against us are justified," he said. The group also showed journalists an armoured vehicle which Hakeemullah said was seized from a truck that was delivering it to NATO forces across the border. One of the Taliban fighters drove the vehicle to demonstrate it was in working condition. Pakistan briefly barred delivery of fuel tankers and food trucks to NATO and US-led forces this month for security reasons after Taliban militants in the region hijacked 15 trucks destined for Afghanistan and looted the vehicles. Pakistan has mounted military operations against militants in the tribal belt, which became a safe haven for hundreds of extremists who fled Afghanistan after the US-led toppling of the hardline Taliban regime in late 2001.