Pakistani Prime Minister conveys drones concern to U.S. Ambassador

Pakistani Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, raised the issue of drone attacks with the U.S.  Ambassador in Islamabad, Richard G. Olson, in a meeting in the backdrop of Saturday’s attack on the country’s North Waziristan tribal region, the Prime Minister’s office said.

The U.S. spy aircraft fired missiles on a house near Mir Ali, a main town in North Waziristan, early Saturday and killed at least four people.

The Saturday’s free-dawn strike was the third in Waziristan tribal region in ten days.

On Dec. 1, U.S. drones launched a strike in South Waziristan killing at least four people. On November 29, a U.S. missile strike on a house killed three people in South Waziristan.

“Expressing his concern over the drone attacks,” the Prime Minister said that they are counterproductive and “we need to find alternative means to eliminate terrorists,” a statement from the Prime Minister said.

The US Ambassador noted the concern of the Government and the people of Pakistan and said that he will convey the concern of the government of Pakistan to US authorities, the statement said.

Pakistan publicly opposes the CIA-controlled drone strikes in its tribal regions, however, the U.S. has ruled out any change in its policy, claiming that Islamabad is reluctant to go after the militants in North Waziristan.

The Thursday’s strike occurred a couple of days after top U.S. and Pakistani defence officials concluded two days of talks in Rawalpindi, who also discussed ‘challenges along the Pak-Afghan border region’, a clear reference to the activities of the militants in the border areas.

Pakistan and the U.S. are in a fix over the drone controversy as both have divergent views. Washington considers this highly secret mission as an effective tool in its so-called war on terror to eliminate its staunch enemies. But Islamabad insists the operation is counterproductive, increases militancy, anti-US sentiments and creates problems for the government.

A UK-based research panel says the CIA’s drone campaign in Pakistan has killed dozens of civilians who had gone to help rescue victims or were attending funerals.

The findings published in February just days after President Obama claimed that the drone campaign in Pakistan was a ‘targeted, focused effort’ that ‘has not caused a huge number of civilian casualties.’

BILATERAL TIES: The Prime Minister expressed the hope that relations between Pakistan and the U.S. would be further strengthened during his tenure as his experience of the region will be helpful in creating a better understanding between the two countries.

The Prime Minister said that things have improved considerably since 2008 when the media was rife with statements that terrorists were near Islamabad. The Present government, he said, with the support of the people, international community, law enforcement agencies has succeeded in pushing these terrorist and is confident that they would be wiped out.

The Prime Minister said “we are fighting against those who attack our mosques, schools, cantonments and innocent civilians and children”.

“We know we have to do a lot, but we will wipe them out”, said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said that recent interaction between two countries at different levels have been very encouraging.

The US Ambassador, who was making his maiden courtesy call on the Prime Minister, said that the United States acknowledges the sacrifices and contribution rendered by the people of Pakistan. The international community, he said, does not appreciate Pakistan’s contributions “as much as it should”.

Mr. Richard G. Olson said that United States wants to have a long term relationship withPakistan base on “mutual respect and common interest”.

The US Ambassador said that the United States is encouraged by the recent visit of Mr. Salahuddin Rabbani, Chairman High Peace Council, Afghan Foreign Minister Mr. Zalmai Rassuol and the visit of General Kayani to Kabul.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=35796

Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 6 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, South Asia, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.