Pakistan slams US killer drone strike

Iran Press TV

Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:8AM GMT

Pakistan has condemned the latest US assassination drone strike in North Waziristan, which led to the death of several people.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Monday, “These unilateral strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

On Sunday, a US assassination drone fired two missiles at the Shawal area of North Waziristan, killing six people.

“The government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications,” the Pakistani Foreign ministry statement added.

“These drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region.”

The latest drone attack was the fourth US airstrike since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took office in June.

Sharif has recently slammed the drone strikes, describing them as a violation of international law and the UN Charter.

Washington claims the airstrikes target militants, but reports on the ground show that civilians have been the main victims of the attacks.

The United States often uses its assassination drones to hit targets in Pakistan and some other countries including Yemen and Afghanistan.

US President Barack Obama recently defended the use of the controversial drones as “self-defense.”

The airstrikes, initiated under former US President George W. Bush, have been escalated under the Obama administration.

The United Nations and several human rights organizations have already classified the United States as the world’s number one user of “targeted killings” largely due to its drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The UN says the US drone strikes in Pakistan pose a growing challenge to the international rule of law.

DB/HSN/HMV