ISLAMABAD, Jan 4: Condemning the latest drone attacks in Waziristan, Pakistan said on Friday these were illegal, counter-productive, unacceptable and violation of its territorial integrity.

“Pakistan wants to resolve the issue of drone attacks through bilateral talks with the United States,” said Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ali Khan in a briefing here.

The spokesman said the issue of drone attacks had been raised at the highest level with the American leadership and Pakistan always condemned them.

He said the American leadership understood Pakistan’s position and concern on the drone attacks and hoped that the matter would be resolved through bilateral means.

Replying to a question about the killing of Mullah Nazir in a recent drone attack, the spokesman said he was not in a position to confirm the information.

The spokesman said Pakistan had so far released 26 Taliban prisoners from jails but declined to say anything about their whereabouts.

He said Pakistan was releasing Taliban prisoners in order to facilitate the reconciliation process for the sake of peace and security in Afghanistan.

The spokesman said that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, during her recent visit to Saudi Arabia, had discussed the regional situation with Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal.

He said Pakistan had very close and strategic relations with Saudi Arabia and both countries wanted to promote peace process in Afghanistan.

He said Ms Khar’s visit was successful and productive because Pakistan enjoyed strong brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia.

Replying to a question about delay in granting Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, the spokesman said the federal cabinet discussed the matter at its Thursday meeting. He said the cabinet reiterated its previous decision to grant the MFN status to India and instructed the authorities concerned to implement the decision.

Answering a question about the proposed Ulema Conference to be held in Kabul, the spokesman said relevant people were in contact and dates and names of participants from Pakistan were being finalised.

On the issue of fresh sanctions announced by the United States against Iran, the spokesman said Pakistan still hoped the nuclear issue would be resolved through peaceful means. He said Pakistan was against the unilateral sanctions.

Answering a question about 50 Pakistanis stranded in a building in Libya, he said the unstable situation in the country had made it difficult to work there.

He, however, said the Foreign Office was aware of the concern of media and would seek report from Pakistan’s ambassador to Libya.---APP