Pakistan Condemns US Drone Strike In N.Waziristan

Islamabad, Nov 2, IRNA – Pakistan strongly condemned the US drone strike that took place in North Waziristan on Friday evening and killed at least six people. Local media quoted security sources said that the US drone struck the Taliban compound at Dandey Darpakhel area where the Taliban leaders were holding a meeting. Some TV channels quoted security officials as saying that the Taliban chief, Hakimullah Mehsood, was killed in the attack. The government and the Taliban have not confirmed Hakimullah’s death. “These strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is an across the board consensus in Pakistan that these drone strikes must end,” the Foreign Ministry said. A Foreign Ministry statement said 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. “Such strikes also set dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations.” The Foreign Ministry said 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./end