ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will discuss the issue of drone strikes with the US leadership in his ongoing visit.
The prime minister, who is on a four-day official visit to the United States, had also said prior to his arrival there that he would take up the issue during his meeting on Wednesday with US President Barack Obama.
In an interview on Tuesday, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmed reiterated Pakistan’s stance that US missile strikes in tribal areas are violation of international laws and counterproductive in combating terrorism and militancy.
Earlier in the day, Amnesty International (AI) in its latest report accused the United States of carrying out unlawful killings in Pakistan through drone attacks‚ some of which could even amount to war crimes.
Responding on the AI assessment, Chaudhry said that it supports Pakistan’s point of view.
“The missile strikes are causing deaths of civilians in Pakistan. They are counterproductive and against international laws… We have been recording our protest after every such incident in Pakistan. Our political leadership has also taken up this issue on every forum, and now the Amnesty International is highlighting the same points which we have already been raising as our stance,” the spokesman said.
Moreover, he said that the Pakistani-US relations carry much significance for progress‚ peace‚ and stability in the region.
The spokesman said Pakistan and the United States are cooperating with each other in various fields and the Prime Minister’s visit will further strengthen the bilateral ties.
