Drone strike in North Waziristan kills 7
Foreign Ministry official condemns strike as a breach of sovereignty.
A file photo of a drone. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A Foreign Ministry official condemned Wednesday's drone strike which killed seven people in North Waziristan as a breach of sovereignty.
"Any drone strike is against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and we condemn it," the official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.
The strike, reported by security officials, was the first such attack since a May 11 general election in which the use of the unmanned aircraft was a major issue.
US President Barack Obama recently indicated he was scaling back the drone strike programme, winning cautious approval from Pakistan.
Security officials and tribesmen said the drone fired two missiles that struck a mud-built house at Chashma village, 3km east of Miranshah.
They said seven people were killed and four wounded. It was not immediately clear if the victims were the intended targets.
"Tribesmen started rescue work an hour after the attack and recovered seven bodies," said resident Bashir Dawar. "The bodies were badly damaged and beyond recognition."
Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif said this month that drone strikes were a "challenge" to Pakistan's sovereignty.
"We will sit with our American friends and talk to them about this issue," he said.
A Foreign Ministry official condemned Wednesday's drone strike which killed seven people in North Waziristan as a breach of sovereignty.
"Any drone strike is against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and we condemn it," the official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.
The strike, reported by security officials, was the first such attack since a May 11 general election in which the use of the unmanned aircraft was a major issue.
US President Barack Obama recently indicated he was scaling back the drone strike programme, winning cautious approval from Pakistan.
Security officials and tribesmen said the drone fired two missiles that struck a mud-built house at Chashma village, 3km east of Miranshah.
They said seven people were killed and four wounded. It was not immediately clear if the victims were the intended targets.
"Tribesmen started rescue work an hour after the attack and recovered seven bodies," said resident Bashir Dawar. "The bodies were badly damaged and beyond recognition."
Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif said this month that drone strikes were a "challenge" to Pakistan's sovereignty.
"We will sit with our American friends and talk to them about this issue," he said.