PM advisor conveyed Pak concerns to US on Hangu drone strike: FO

ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has strongly condemned the US drone strike that took place in Hangu district of the KPK province on Thursday.

“The deep concerns of the government of Pakistan were conveyed to the US Ambassador in Islamabad on the same day by the Advisor to the Prime Minister for National Security and Foreign affairs (Sartaj Aziz),” the statement noted.

It said that ever since it took over, the present government has been raising its concern over the drone strikes with the U.S. Administration and at the United Nations.

The statement noted that the prime minister during his recent visit to the US had also raised the issue with President Obama and other senior US leaders. “

“It was therefore a matter of particular concern to Pakistan that the 21 November strike targeted a location in the KPK province and also resulted in the unfortunate killings of several persons including children,” the Foreign Office said.

Our deep concern in this regard was conveyed by the Advisor to US Ambassador, adding that this has deeply disturbed the people of Pakistan.

The Advisor re-emphasized that the drone strikes are not only a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, these are also having a negative impact on the Government’s efforts to pursue the consensus achieved in the All Parties Conference to explore the dialogue process in order to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region.