Pakistan summons top US diplomat over drone strikes

Pakistan on Saturday summoned a top US diplomat and lodged a formal protest over a recent drone strikes which killed nearly seven people.

A US spy aircraft fired missiles on a house in North Waziristan tribal region, which was the second US attack in ten says.

Last week a US attack killed six people including the Taliban deputy chief, Wali-ur-Rehman Mehsud, in North Waziristan.

“On the Prime Minister’s instructions, the US Charge d’ Affaires, Ambassador Richard Hoagland was summoned this afternoon to the Foreign Office by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tariq Fatemi to lodge a strong protest on the US drone strike carried out in North Waziristan on 07 June 2013,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“The US official was handed a demarche in this regard,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

It was conveyed to the US CdA that the Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the drone strikes which are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes was emphasized”.

It was also pointed out that the Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications, the Foreign Ministry said.

It was also stressed that these drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region, it added.

Pakistani Taliban withdrew their dialogue offer to the new Pakistani government that was considered as a serious setback for the possible peace process.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=40530

Posted by Tahir Khan on Jun 8 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.