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Pakistan records protest with US over drone strikes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 14, IRNA -- Pakistan has recorded protest with American Ambassador in Islamabad over two strikes by US pilotless aircraft in South Waziristan tribal region Wednesday which killed at least 6 people, Foreign Ministry reported.

In a break of almost a month, the US drone aircraft in two strikes fired missiles in Angor Adda area in South Waziristan tribal region, near the Afghan border on Wednesday.

It was the first strike since March 17 when US missiles hit a jirga or council of tribal elders in North Waziristan region, killing 44 civilians and injured many more.

In the first attack, on Wednesday a pilotless aircraft fired three missiles at a house. More missiles were fired by another spy plane some time later which hit a vehicle and a motorcycle.

“Pakistan strongly condemns the drone attack at Angoor Adda today. We have repeatedly said that such attacks are counter productive and only contribute to strengthen the hands of the terrorists,” the foreign Ministry said.

“Drone attacks have become a core irritant in the counter-terror campaign. Pakistan has taken up the matter with the US at all levels,” a Ministry’s statement said.

The Foreign Secretary has lodged a strong protest with the US Ambassador, the statement said.

Hours after the drone strikes, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani told the National Assembly that diplomatic pressure was being applied on the US to stop drone attacks in the tribal regions and America will have to stop it.

The Prime Minister was responding to remarks by the Opposition leader, Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, who said that despite protests by the President, Prime Minister and the Army Chief, the U.S. is raining missiles on Pakistani tribal areas.

“Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and diplomatic channels are being used to compel the US to stop drone attacks as these were counter-productive,” Prime Minister Gilani said.

The Wednesday attack came at a time when Pakistan’s intelligence chief held talks is in the US for talks with the CIA officials, asking for prior information and cut in the drone strikes.

The US drones regularly carry out strikes in Pakistan’s tribal regions, which they claim are to hit hideouts of the militants in the region. Pakistan publicly opposes the US strikes, President Asif Ali Zardari told a British daily this week and that he would again ask President Obama to give drone technology to Pakistan in his upcoming visit to the US.