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Pakistan summons US ambassador over air strikes
Islamabad (AFP) Oct 29, 2008 Pakistan on Wednesday registered "a strong protest" with Washington's ambassador to Islamabad over a number of missile attacks by US drones inside its territory, the foreign ministry said. "The US ambassador was called to the Foreign Office today and a strong protest was lodged on the continued missile attacks by US drones inside Pakistani territory," the ministry said in a statement. There have been a total of 16 US missile strikes against suspected extremist hideouts in the Pakistani tribal regions since August 13 this year, according to an AFP tally. The attacks have sharply raised tensions between Washington and its key ally in its "war on terror" against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. "It was underscored to the ambassador (Anne Patterson) that the government of Pakistan strongly condemns the missile attacks which resulted in the loss of precious lives and property," the foreign ministry statement added. "It was emphasised that such attacks were a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and should be stopped immediately. The attacks also undermine public support for the government's counter-terrorism efforts." The most recent strike took place on Sunday evening, killing a top Taliban commander and at least 15 other people in the South Waziristan region, Pakistani officials said. Haji Omar Khan was a lieutenant of the veteran Afghan Taliban chieftain and former anti-Soviet fighter Jalaluddin Haqqani, who was close to Mullah Omar, the leader of the 1996-2001 Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Khan, a member of the feared Wazir tribe, was active in attacks on US-led and NATO troops across the border in Afghanistan, local residents and security officials said. Islamabad has previously protested about such strikes, which have been stepped up since a new civilian government came to power in Islamabad in March. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has promised zero tolerance against violations of his country's sovereignty. The attacks have also became an election issue in the US presidential campaign. A New York Times report last month said Pakistan's national security adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani made an unannounced visit to top White House officials after a strike in early September to voice his anger in person. The attack on September 3 led to civilian casualties. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
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EU computer network links Pakistan researchers to the world
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