Review drone policy, Pakistan tells US
April 23rd, 2011 - 4:27 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, April 23 (IANS) Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir has said that the US needs to review its drone strike policy as it was “counter-productive”.
The Dawn daily reported here that the remark was made at a joint briefing with US Special Representative Mark Grossman in Washington.
The latest drone strike took place earlier this week in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region, killing over 21 people. A drone attack on March 17 had left 39 people dead.
The US sees the drones as an important counter-terrorism tool but “that’s not exactly the way we look at it”, Bashir was quoted as saying.
“The people of Pakistan consider these attacks - and the casualties that occur - as a source of concern.
“This particular methodology is counter-productive and needs a review.”
Grossman said, “All efforts against terrorism are designed to make life safer for Pakistanis and Americans”.
The two-day talks between them was aimed at paving the way for a strategic dialogue in Islamabad next month.
Bashir described the talks as “cordial, constructive and engaging”.
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Tags: bashir, casualties, counter terrorism, dawn, dialogue, drone, drones, march 17, mark grossman, methodology, north waziristan, pakistan, pakistanis, paving the way, salman, waziristan region