ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned two successive pre-dawn US drone strikes in North Waziristan tribal region, saying these strikes have a negative impact on the government’s efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region.
At least 16 suspected militants were killed in US drone strikes in Dargah Mandi and Dande Darpakhel areas of North Waziristan earlier in the day. The fresh US drone strikes took place in Pakistan after a nearly six months as the last drone strike carried out by the US in the country happened on December 26, 2013.
“The government of Pakistan condemns the two incidents of US drone strikes that took place near Miranshah in North Waziristan on 11 and 12 June,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“These strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and additionally, these strikes have a negative impact on the government’s efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region,” the statement said.
Earlier, in her weekly media briefing in Islamabad, the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that Pakistan’s position on drone strikes is very clear and evident from different resolutions.
The spokesperson said that the government is ascertaining the situation and facts about the latest drone attacks in North Waziristan.
