Violation of international law: Pakistan raises drone issue in UNSC meeting

Adviser to PM asks UN Security Council to play a more active role in resolving disputes.

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said at the UN on Friday that drone strikes needed to be halted immediately, stated a Ministry of Foreign Affairs release.

Speaking at the high level meeting of the UN Security Council, Aziz said that the strikes violated international law, including international humanitarian law and were counter productive to Pakistan's efforts of fighting terrorism.

Agreeing with the UN Secretary General's earlier observation in his report, Aziz said that that drone strikes resulted in child casualties and had a negative impact on their pyscho-social health.

The meeting was convened in Australia to discuss the issue of small arms and light weapons. The Council adopted a resolution seeking to reinforce measures to prevent illicit transfers, accumulation and misuse of those weapons.

Aziz said that the demand of those weapons needed to be kept in check.

Highlighting steps taken by Pakistan to regulate the sale, supply, import and transfer of small weapons, Aziz said that Security Council should play a more active role in the resolution of outstanding disputes.