ISLAMABAD: The head of a UN team investigating casualties from US drone strikes has concluded that the attacks violate Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Ben Emmerson, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, says the Pakistani government made clear to him it does not consent to the strikes.

He says Pakistani officials told him they have confirmed at least 400 civilian deaths by US drones.

A Pakistani analyst helping Emmerson’s team, Imtiaz Gul, said Friday that he gave the UN investigator case studies of 25 strikes that allegedly killed civilians.

Emmerson’s statement was released on Thursday, following his three-day visit to Pakistan that ended Wednesday.

US officials have disputed claims that drones have killed many civilians in Pakistan. They have also alleged Pakistan secretly consents to the strikes.