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Pakistan condemns American drone strikes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, June 5, IRNA -- Pakistan has strongly condemned later series of strikes by American spy aircraft in the country’s tribal regions.

At least 16 people were killed and four others injured in two U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan early Monday morning.

Two U.S. drones targeted a house and vehicle suspected of carrying militants in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, a restive tribal area at Pakistan-Afghanistan border which the United States believes as a stronghold of militants involved in launching attacks on NATO forces posted in Afghanistan.

Responding to some queries in the media regarding the recent drone attacks, the Spokesman of the Foreign Office said that Pakistan’s position on drone attacks is very clear, Pakistan strongly condemns these attacks.

“Pakistan has consistently maintained that these illegal attacks are a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are in contravention of international law,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Muazam Khan said.

“It is our considered view that the strategic disadvantages of such attacks far outweigh their tactical advantages, and are therefore, totally counterproductive,” the spokesman said.

Monday morning's drone strike was the third over the past three days.

Early on Sunday morning, U.S. drones fired four missiles at a house in South Waziristan area, leaving ten people dead.

Four people were killed when U.S. drones attacked a house in Ghowa Khowa area of South Waziristan on Saturday.

Anti-U.S. sentiment runs high in the Pakistani nation basically stemming from suspected U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan's border region which are regarded as a violation of the country's sovereignty and have killed hundreds of innocent civilians.

Pakistani authorities repeatedly condemned U.S. drone strikes in its territory but the United States has never stopped such attacks in Pakistan's tribal area.

At least 151 people have been killed in 20 drone strikes launched in northwest tribal area of Pakistan since the beginning of this year.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1020127