PARIS, Sept 9: France warned on Tuesday that missile strikes by suspected US drones in Pakistani tribal areas were undermining international efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“Not only are these creating human tragedies but also situations that have counterproductive effects on the political dynamics that we would like to see, and that means a partnership between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the international community,” said foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier.At least 21 people including women and children were killed on Monday in a missile strike by suspected US drones on a Pakistan tribal town near the Afghan border, officials told AFP.

The drone fired several missiles that hit a house near a madressah in North Waziristan, they said, in the fourth such strike in the rugged tribal region in almost a week.—AFP