Pakistan raps ‘unlawful’ US drone raids
Pakistan: Pakistan has condemned the non-UN-sanctioned US
assassination drone strikes in the northwestern tribal belt of the
country as “unlawful and counterproductive,” Press TV reports.
“We are of the firm view that these are unlawful, counterproductive
and hence unacceptable,” Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdul
Basit said on Tuesday.
He added that, “Our view has always been very clear and position
principled.” The remarks came as US President Barack Obama confirmed for
the first time on Monday that drone aircraft have struck targets within
Pakistan. Washington had never officially acknowledged the operations
before.
President Obama added that “a lot of these strikes have been in the
FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas).”
The US regularly carries out attacks by unmanned aircraft on
Pakistan's tribal regions, claiming that the airstrikes target militants
affiliated with the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorist groups, but locals
say civilians are the main victims.
The aerial attacks, initiated by former US President George W. Bush,
have escalated under President Barack Obama. Press TV
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