Drone campaign: Pakistan summons US envoy, lodges protest
Richard Hoagland informed drone strikes unlawful, against international law and violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
ISLAMABAD:
Amidst a sudden surge in US drone strikes in the tribal regions, Pakistan has once again protest the drone campaign which, it says, infringes on its sovereignty.
US Charge d’affairs Richard Hoagland was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday to convey the government’s serious concern on drone strikes in the tribal regions, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office.
“He was informed that the drone strikes were unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan’s
sovereignty. Parliament had emphatically stated that they were unacceptable. Drone strikes represented a clear red-line for Pakistan,” said the statement.
It added that a separate demarche was lodged with Ambassador Hoagland on the seizure of unauthorised weapons from the possession of US diplomats in Peshawar on Monday.
“He was informed that the carrying of unauthorised weapons by diplomats was unacceptable and contrary to both Pakistani law and accepted norms of diplomatic conduct,” according to the statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2012.
Amidst a sudden surge in US drone strikes in the tribal regions, Pakistan has once again protest the drone campaign which, it says, infringes on its sovereignty.
US Charge d’affairs Richard Hoagland was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday to convey the government’s serious concern on drone strikes in the tribal regions, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office.
“He was informed that the drone strikes were unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan’s
sovereignty. Parliament had emphatically stated that they were unacceptable. Drone strikes represented a clear red-line for Pakistan,” said the statement.
It added that a separate demarche was lodged with Ambassador Hoagland on the seizure of unauthorised weapons from the possession of US diplomats in Peshawar on Monday.
“He was informed that the carrying of unauthorised weapons by diplomats was unacceptable and contrary to both Pakistani law and accepted norms of diplomatic conduct,” according to the statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2012.