Pakistan Protests Against US Drone Strike

Islamabad, July 16, IRNA – Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the US drone strike that killed two people in North Waziristan tribal agency on July 13. It is third US attack since Sharif has come to power. Two suspected militants riding a motorcycle were struck by missiles in the Mir Ali Saturday evening. “These unilateral strikes are violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Foreign Ministry said. Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes, the Foreign Ministry spokesman 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,” he said in a statement. He said these drone strikes have negative impacts on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region./end