Pakistan Summons Top US Diplomat Over Drone Strikes

Islamabad, June 9, IRNA – Pakistan on Saturday summoned a top US diplomat to hear its 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, the second US attack in ten days. Last week six people, including the Taliban deputy chief, Wali-ur-Rehman Mehsud, were killed in an attack by US forces in North Waziristan. “On the prime minister’s instructions, the US Charge d’ Affaires, Ambassador Richard Hoagland was summoned to the Foreign Office by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi to lodge a strong protest on the US drone strike carried out in North Waziristan on June 7, 2013,” the Foreign Ministry said. “The US official was handed a demarche in this regard,” a Foreign Ministry statement said. The Government of Pakistan strongly condemned the drone strikes and said they are violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes was emphasized”. It was also stressed that these drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge cordial and cooperative relations and on ensuring peace and stability in the region, it added./end