Gilani condemns US air strikes

PAKISTAN: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday said that US missile strikes on tribal areas targeting Taliban militants infringed on his country’s sovereignty. Islamabad consistently publicly opposes the missile strikes, saying they also deepen resentment among the populace. Since August 2008, nearly 60 such strikes — carried out by unmanned US drone aircraft — have killed more than 550 people.

“As far as drone attacks are concerned Pakistan condemns them and it considers it an infringement into our sovereignty,” Gilani told reporters at a dinner he hosted at his official residence.

“We have talked to them (US) and asked them to review it and change the policy or transfer the technology to us, or there should be an alternative thing which should be controlled by us,” Gilani said. “We live in this country and we know who is a terrorist and who is not a terrorist.”

Condemnation by Gilani comes despite an August 5 drone attack that killed Baitullah Mehsud, the head of Pakistan’s Taliban organisation and suspected Al-Qaeda facilitator. Islamabad, Thursday, AFP