Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam. PHOTO: INP/FILE
The Foreign Office issued a tersely-worded statement condemning the strikes as "a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
"Additionally, these strikes have a negative impact on the government's efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region," the statement said.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam also told AFP that rumours of Pakistan requesting the attack were "speculation".
She further said that the government is investigating into the strikes and figuring out the facts.
Two separate strikes took place over Wednesday night and early Thursday morning in the North Waziristan tribal district that lies on the Afghan border.
Karachi airport attack
Speaking at her weekly media briefing in Islamabad, the spokesperson, when questioned over whether Indian weapons were used in the Karachi airport attack, said the government would not make any allegations without substantial proof and that investigations into the incident were underway.
In an all-night battle with militants who besieged Karachi airport’s old terminal, which started on June 8, 37 people, including 10 militants, were killed.
This was the first large-scale terrorist attack at the country’s largest airport in years.
Afghan elections
Meanwhile, Aslam also informed that Pakistan has increased security at its border with Afghanistan ahead of the second round of the Afghan elections.
She said that vigilance and security along the Pak-Afghan border has been increased, adding that patrolling has been enhanced as well.
Aslam remarked that Pakistan extends full support for peaceful transition in Afghanistan.
The second round of polling will be conducted on June 14, 2014. Afghanistan’s presidential election has come to a run-off poll after none of the competing candidates secured more than 50% of the total number of votes cast.
COMMENTS (44)
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Why, aren't they more accurate than our own jet strikes with less collateral damage? How long we wish to live as nation of hypocrites?
@junglee - a cowards main goal is to deflect responsibility to another. You belong to a class of people who refuse to bear responsibility that we as a nation have screwed ourselves. If America is this big bad bogey man why is India prospering? when we two were created at the same time. Why is Iraq flaring up the ancient Shia-Sunnui conflict has never been addressed the slaughter of its people by Syrians is ignored by all the high Muslim council. Don't you think its time to clean our own backyard than blaming others. The amount of money America is pumping into an otherwise rich country like Pakistan is mind boggling! We are unable to control the foreign terrorist that roam & kill our streets, corruption and bribery has become a main ingredient of our cultureso as Pakistan we are not pure our hands are filthy!
Nice statement by FO ......... I agree it is violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity ...... :-)
Condemnation #?. I lost count. One side is approving of strikes & these guys are condemning. Making up your mind and choosing one side will make govt. look like less of a loser.
Everyone is scared of the establishment. Fingers are always pointed at the politicians because they are a convenient punching bag. Does anybody seriously think that the politicians can call for air strikes without the agencies' permission? The Sheikh Raheeds and Imran Khans will show their anger at the politicians but they don't have the courage to question the establishment for fear of coming into their crosshairs. The case of Hamid Mir is enough to permanently silence opposition them.
A study on how a people coalesce into a nation will provide clues on why Pakistan is going through these throes of agony. Lab-grown nations will struggle to find an identity. Nation-forming has to be organic and emanate from the ground up. It is predominantly driven by geographical, cultural and linguistic dimensions. Very few nations are formed on the basis of religion. If West Pakistan didn't identify with East Pakistan it was because they did not have a cultural and linguistic connection. The solution to Pakistan's malady is not to push religion as a glue but to promote more cultural and/or linguistic homogeneity. Despite the extreme emotions that emanate from religious sloganeering, it has surprisingly little long-term retention. The same pattern can be seen in India too. North, East and South India are culturally distinct from each other. If there is a semblance of a common identity it is because the governments in India have been able to give hope to the youth in the form of education and employment. Rising standards of living has also contributed in pushing these differences into the background. But they will always remain under the surface.
A Haqqani head here and there keeps the U.S. happy. The art of double game diplomacy.
America is like a vulture or wolf that roams around looking for sick, weak and injured to prey upon. The philosophy is to never let a crisis go to waste. Whenever a country is going through social or economic crisis, which is often midwifed by America in the first place, USA sees it as an opportunity to interfere inorder to expand its sphere of influence to pursue her own interests and render it in a worse state than the one it found it in. Security, democracy, women rights, and all those nice words are an eyewash. USA only wants pseudo-democracy in Pakistan. A pseudo-democracy which comprises of people with dual-citizenship, who are popular on Facebook and Twitter only. Such puppets always look toward their puppet masters for approval rather than the masses. International courts and UN should take action and impose sanctions against America for such predatory behaviour. Unfortunately they won't because they can't.
Anyhow what so ever it is - this is required.
Foreign Office spokeswomen has no clue what's going on, look at this Yahoo article http://news.yahoo.com/drone-strikes-kill-10-pakistan-taliban-airport-attack-095442377.html. It clearly says 'Two top government officials said Islamabad had given the Americans "express approval" for the strikes - the first time Pakistan has admitted to such cooperation'
Definitely pakistani citizens, Imran Khan or any other politician have no clue whats going on , Army and ISI is authorizing and giving intel to Americans to strike.
Every time there is a US drone strike in Pakistan, the Pakistani foreign ministry official would come out with a official statement of protest against the strikes ... how long will this farce continue ... ??!!
If you choose not to defend yourselves from the Taliban - fine - but don't expect to provide sanctuary to these thugs and expect the World to follow your example. With sovereignty comes responsibility - and it's apparent that you don't have sovereign control over N Waziristan.
FO found out that the drones killed the people of Haqqani network. Our govt is still playing the GOOD and the BAD Taliban game.
"Pakistan condemns drone strike " hahahaha - nice joke.
Pakistan condemns but Pakistanis welcome drone strikes :D
ADD to the peace and stability in Pakistan and the region, what crazy upside world are we Pakistanis living in? If your house is filthy then you get outside help to remove the dirt. Who do these spokesperson think they are talking to? of course us Pakistanis they have done it in the past we swallow it so why should they NOT continue feeding us gatbage!
America is answerable to no law or international body. It imposes its will on others by hook or by crook. Creating bad press, to engineering economic hardship, to launching militants, to use of force, to orchesterating coups, to fomenting civil wars, to committing untold atrocities are all fair game for her. If the government of Pakistan was its puppet, America would have conveniently used it as a rubber stamp, and since its not, America conveniently ignores it. The bottom line is America’s interest, talk of democracy and terrorism is an eye wash to pursue those interests. Similar is the case of UN, if UN acts as America’s puppet, she uses it as a rubber stamp, else America ignores it. America has always supported dictators in Pakistan as their weak position at home can be exploited for advancing America’s interests. In order to create confusion and discredit the efforts of current government of Pakistan, America is trying to create an impression that drone operations are being conducted with the consent of the government of Pakistan, which is not true. This only happened under the dictator, whom America exploited as usual. All surveys report that an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis don’t want these drone operations but that is not important for America. On the other hand if there is an issue that less than 5% of Pakistanis care about but it can be used to exploit the government, Americans would blow it up to look like a major issue for the sake of her interests.
@Pir Roshan:
So you're disappointed when terrorists that kill Afghans suffer drone strikes, is that it? But you were excited at the possibility of it being the TTP? Something is very wrong with you. Being "disappointed" that terrorists can no longer terrorize and kill Afghans is a very very horrible thing to say. Its hypocritical. With statements like that people will have less sympathy for Pakistan every passing day.
No condemnation of Taliban though despite so many attacks by them. Imagine that.
In fact Minister of Interior actually declared them muhib-e-watan a few weeks ago and PM calls them brothers who have gone astray. I guess as long as they only bomb other provinces that is fine.
Condemnation after 48 hours??? O yeah they had to check with the US embassy first
NO GUTS - NO GLORY
Means take a stand
Worthwhile tweet by a Pakistani. " If the ISI and the army weren't busy trying to close down Geo TV, may be they could have prevented the Karachi Airpor attack. Niro fiddling ..............
I dont understand the foreign office logic. If some one hit your enemy you should be thankful but this madam condemn it.
Ever heard : Anything that happnes to me happnes only because of me . Its time for Pak to do some self introspection on this issue .
“a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrit - Sir, I heard it correctly - The typing mistake should be corrected as 'a violation of Pakistan's slavery and Terrorists Integrity.
pak army killed 10 innocent TTP in airport its is not it same crime like drone strike?????
What does Pakistan want?? Just let the military rule Pakistan. It is obvious that their goals don't match the goals of the political dispensation.
Running with the hares and hunting with the foxes.. typical double speak from our FO.. Never had the courage to speak the truth.. quite sad !
PML(N) has adopted the PPP approach to allow the drone strikes but publicly denounce the attacks. God, please provide us with some brave and honest leaders!
Now the people of Pakistan know it all. Two Governments in one country, Pakistan military asks for help from the Americans dornes to prevent Exodus of people towards cities and the foreign office condemns it!
Rex Minor
The Taliban have openly declared war on Pakistan and they are the enemy. They should have the same status as India in 1965 and 1971. If Pakistani government is cowardly and delusional, at least it should let someone else kill this enemy of the state. The Pakistani people should be thanking the Americans for doing what needs to be done, rather than condemning.
Strikes were requested by GHQ in response to Karachi airport attacks. The protests are for public consumption, as was agreed between Pakistan and US governments long ago.
Comments like these on drone strike clearly indicate that Pakistan is not interested in solving terrorist problem. If they were serious they will ask for assistance of world community to give relief to Joe Pakistani. Pakistan celebrates release of 700 million loan but not death of 16 militants. What a country!
Another fake condemnation.
What does the constitution and SOPs say regarding a fighter aircraft breaching Pakistan's sovereignty and dropping bombs? Yes, warning and shoot down, not pathetic condemnation!
This government is incompetent. They couldn't do dialogue - they were unwilling, fearful of America and army, and incompetent. They are also greedy for American $$$.
US has already made operation in NW compulsory to the aid. One wonders why US is so interested in "Pakistan's war"???
This conflict should still be solved with dialogue, isolation, and then elimination through targeted operations.
The way we are going, unfortunately, we are in for a long, long conflict! Give more votes to incompetent rulers, and now face this curse!
What material you guys are made of? Flames of Karachi airport still not doused and started that silly game all over again? How many times do you condemn terrorist groups when they use your soil? If you stay mum in those cases keep mum now.
I was very excited to think the victims were TTP. It disappointed me that they are Commander Haji Gul of Haqani network & the second attack on Afghan Taliban. It is good that Islamic Republic has condemned dronning of freedom loving Haqanis & Afghan Taliban. So disappointed in US for voilating our sovergnity time & again.
What is the use of such statements when whole world knows that the drone strikes have Pakistan's approval. Truth is that at least 90% Pakistanis will support these strikes. Time for Pakistani government to share the truth with public.
Proof that a dumber nation never existed in history.
Madam if you are not able to destroy the safe heavens for Terrorists than any sovereign country have right to do so. Oh the irony EITHER STOP THIS CANCER BY FORCE OR LET ANYONE DO HIS JOB.
Dear "Foreign Office spokesperson" if we don't fight them then the Americans will do the fighting for us.
Of course Punjabistan condemns the attack as the attack has killed its beloved; people who it will never take action against.
Good, now everything is back to normal. The Drone-Condemn cycle continues
Correction... They don't represent Pakistan. Currently bureaucracy is serving a family. And the condemnation is from that family on the death of terrorists who had unleashed terror of us, the Pakistanis. Whoever brings justice to these criminals is doing us a favor. Period!