Pakistan Condemns US Drone Strike In North Waziristan

Islamabad, Sept 23, IRNA – Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned the US drone strike in the country's tribal region which killed at least seven people. The US spy aircraft fired four missiles on two houses in Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, Pakistani security officials were quoted as saying today. Pakistan warned that the American attacks set dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations. Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the attacks 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. “The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the US drone strike that took place in North Waziristan today on September 22, 2013. These unilateral strikes are a violation of Pakistans sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes, the spokesman said in a statement. He said the Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counterproductive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications. There was no immediate information about identity of those killed. Residents said that the houses were destroyed in the strike in the afternoon. The US has carried out 20 strikes mostly in North Waziristan this year, killing over 100 people. A senior leader of the Haqqani Network, Mulla Sangeen was killed in a US strike this month along with five other people. Officials say Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will raise the issue of the drone strikes in his UN speech this month./end