Updated on
Summary FM Hina Rabbani Khar has called on US to immediately end drone strikes in Pakistan.
The foreign minister made the statement in an interview with Press TV, after arriving in the Iranian capital Tehran for the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).“You see Pakistan’s position is clear today and has been clear in the past. Our position is that this is something which is counter-productive. It is unlawful. It is illegal, and therefore they must cease. This is what the parliament of Pakistan has clearly said,” Rabbani Khar said.“We are in close discussion with the US to find different ways and means to be able to achieve the same objectives, as far as the US is concerned,” Khar added, calling on Washington to immediately end its drone attacks in Pakistan’s territories.The killing of Pakistani civilians, including women and children, in drone strikes has strained relations between Islamabad and Washington, prompting Pakistani officials to send warnings to the US administration over the assaults.Tension between the two sides intensified after the US launched airstrikes on two Pakistani military checkpoints near the Afghan border in November 2011, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers.The UN and the Pakistani government have condemned the US use of combat drones as a blatant violation of international law.Washington claims that the unmanned aircraft target militants and their strongholds, but victims of such attacks have been predominantly civilians.
