Pakistani Minister Accuses US Of Hindering Peace

Islamabad, Nov 23, IRNA – Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Friday accused the United States of hindering restoration of peace to the country. Nisar told reporters in Islamabad that Pakistan cannot trust any of U.S. promises in view of its repeated drone strikes. He referred to a recent U.S. commitment not to carry out drone attacks during Pakistan’s talks to the Taliban but it attacked a religious school in the country’s northwest on Thursday. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had told the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee this week that the U.S. has assured Pakistan that drone strikes will not be carried out during talks with the Taliban. The U.S. drone attack on November 1st had killed the Taliban Chief, Hakimullah Mehsud, which led to the collapse of the dialogue process with the Taliban. Taliban then refused to talk to the government and announced attacks to take revenge of their slain leader. The government had planned to send a delegation of the religious scholars to the Waziristan tribal region for initial contacts with the Taliban but was cancelled following the U.S. attack. Blaming US involvement in the country for all the chaos, the Interior Minister said it is time Pakistan decides between “honour and US dollars.” “The American financial aid has not brought any positive change in the country,” Chaudhry Nisar to the media persons outside the parliament. He also condemned the U.S. drone strike on a religious school in Hangu district which killed six students and teachers on Thursday. “How can we consider US as our friend after this drone strike,” Nisar questioned./end