Pakistan condemns latest US drone strike in North Waziristan

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-9-30 15:16:40

Pakistan on Monday condemned a latest strike by American spy aircraft in the country's North Waziristan tribal region which killed three people and injured four others.

Security sources said that several unmanned aircraft were flying over the area and later fired missiles on a compound in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan.

"The government of Pakistan strongly condemns the US drone strike that took place in North Waziristan today on Sept. 30,"the Foreign Ministry said.

"These unilateral strikes are a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity,"a Foreign Ministry statement said, adding Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes.

It said the government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications. Such strikes also set dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations.

The latest strike was carried out just days after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his UN General Assembly's address urged the US to stop drone attacks.

The US argues the CIA-controlled drone campaign is important to eliminate militants blamed for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

"These drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region,"the Foreign Ministry's statement said.

It was the second consecutive drone attack in the same region in two days.

On Sunday, US unnamed aircraft killed four people in North Waziristan when missiles struck a house near Miranshah, headquarters of North Waziristan, tribesmen said.

Monday's strike was third in the same region in less than 10 days.

Six people were killed in a US drone strike on Sept. 22.

Earlier, at least four people were killed when a US drone targeted a house with missiles in North Waziristan on Aug. 31.

Monday's strike was 22 in Pakistan this year, killing at least 128 people.


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