US envoy summoned over drone hit

Statement said latest drone strike would have negative impact on govt’s initiative to undertake dialogue with TTP.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday called the US ambassador to the Foreign Office to register its protest over the recent drone attack, which killed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud.

“Pakistan has condemned drone strikes whenever they have taken place, including the two recent drone attacks that took place on Thursday and Friday,” said the statement.

It said Pakistan had been raising its concern over the drone strikes with the US administration and at the United Nations.

The statement said the latest drone strike would have a negative impact on the government’s initiative to undertake a dialogue with the TTP.

“The government, however, is determined to continue with these efforts to engage with the TTP, to bring an end to the ongoing violence and make them a part of mainstream politics within the parameters of our constitution,” it added.

The statement further said Pakistan had decided to instruct its ambassadors in the capitals of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to call at an appropriate level to brief the host governments on Pakistan’s concerns, “with specific reference to the setback” caused its peace process initiative by the latest drone attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2013.