A top aide of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that his country is hopeful of end to US drone strikes in the country and will raise the issue with US Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to Pakistan next month.
Islamabad, June 18/Nationalturk – A top aide of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that his country is hopeful of end to US drone strikes in the country.
“A new policy is being evolved to stop US drone attacks in Pakistan. Pakistan government is hopeful that it will succeed in ending the US drone strikes in its tribal areas,” Sartaj Aziz Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security told Pakistan’s parliament (National Assembly) today.
He said the government is working seriously to end the US drone attacks, which are a contravention of the country’s sovereignty and counter-productive for the campaign against terrorism.
“Pakistan has already conveyed its serious concerns over drone strikes to US and it will continue to raise the issue at all forums,” he said.
Aziz, who has the status of a federal minister in Pakistan government, said the drone issue will also be raised during US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to the country next month.
‘Drone attacks are violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty’
Stating that Pakistan’s policy is clear that drone attacks are violation of its sovereignty and integrity, he said Pakistan government has already conveyed serious concerns to the United States.
He said PM Nawaz Sharif in his first speech in the parliament after being elected as prime minister had vociferously demanded an end to US drone strikes.
Giving break-up of US drone strikes in Pakistan over last four years, Aziz said 115 US drone strikes took place in 2010, 62 in 2011 and 45 in 2012. 13 such strikes have taken place in tribal areas of the country this year so far. A single US drone strike has taken place since new government led by Nawaz Sharif took over reigns of the country,” he said.
‘Drone strikes creating hindrances in better Pakistan-US ties’
Maintaining that drone strikes were creating hindrances in forging better relations with US, he said, “The issue should be resolved through peaceful negotiations. Instead of pursuing the policy of threat, we need to resolve this issue through talks”.
Terming recent speech of US President Obama on drone attack as encouraging, Aziz said, “If the US drone strikes continued, guidelines would also be sought from the representatives of people to devise future strategy”.
“Pakistan is also holding negotiation with like-minded countries over the issue of drone attacks,” he said adding that strong protests would be held to increase the pressure.
“If that did not work, the Pakistan government would then turn to other means,” he warned.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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