ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday said the issue of drone attacks would be taken up with US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson, DawnNews reported.
During a policy statement in the Senate, Khar said drone attacks were a violation of Pakistan's territorial integrity, adding that the government was not oblivious to the challenges confronting the country.
Khar’s statement on US drones came in the wake of the Obama administration’s finalising of a rule book for targeted killings which would not apply to Pakistan, enabling the CIA to freely conduct direct drone strikes in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
She moreover said Pakistan wanted cordial ties with all neighbouring states, including India, adding that Pakistan's foreign minister and army chief would not be issuing irresponsible statements as had been made by their Indian counterparts.
The minister said the government did not believe in issuing irresponsible or provocative statements for the purpose of posturing.
Earlier last week, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir had urged India to tone down what he called “Pakistan bashing” over a spate of military clashes in Kashmir between the neighbours.
