US Not To Launch Drone Strikes During Peace Talks: Pakistan

Islamabad, Nov 21, IRNA – Pakistan says the United States has assured that it would not launch drone strikes during peace talks with the Taliban. Pakistan national security adviser said on Wednesday the US drone strike which killed the Taliban chief, Hakimullah Mehsud, this month, has damaged the government peace talks with the militants. Mehsud was killed when American spy aircraft rained missiles into North Waziristan tribal region on November 1 just a day before a team of top Islamic scholars were to meet him to discuss about the agenda and venue for the negotiations. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP refused to talk to the government after the killing of their chief and also announced revenge attacks. “The US drone which killed the Taliban leader damaged Pakistan’s peace initiative,” Sartaj Aziz told the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee convened to discuss the status of the government peace efforts. “The United States has now assured Pakistan that it will not launch any drone strike when talks with the Taliban are started,” the security adviser said. The US November 1st strike was widely condemned in Pakistan as the government had accused Washington of sabotaging peace process. Ruling coalition in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has announced to block supply route for NATO forces from November 23rd as a protest against the drone strikes./end