Pakistan on Thursday summoned a senior American diplomat and conveyed protest against the recent drone strikes in the country’s North Waziristan tribal region, Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.
A series of U.S. drone attacks bombed North Waziristan over the past few days in three separate attacks, killing at least 14 people.
Pakistani officials told the diplomat, who was not identified, that the attacks were unacceptable, unlawful and a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
“The US Embassy was today demarched on recent drone strikes in North Waziristan. A senior US diplomat was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and informed that the drone strikes were unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty,” said a brief statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesman.
“It was emphatically stated that such attacks were unacceptable,” the statement said.
The United States has ignored Pakistan’s calls for a halt to drone strikes, which Islamabad says are counterproductive in the war on terror and spark anti-American sentiments.
But Washington insists that the attacks are the key to eliminate al-Qaeda remnants and Taliban.
The strikes are very unpopular in Pakistan because many people believe they mostly kill civilians – an allegation disputed by the U.S.


