Pakistan may boycott Chicago summit & keep NATO Supply closed over Drones

[Shardul.....the lion]

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may boycott the upcoming Nato summit in Chicago and delay its decision to reopen Nato supply routes in retaliation for the latest US drone attack in North Waziristan Agency, officials said.This was the first such attack since parliament last month approved new guidelines on relations with the United States, which included a call for an end to drone strikes in Pakistani territory.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office denounced the latest strike as “a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty”.

“Such attacks are in total contravention of international law and established norms of interstate relations,” it added. The matter would be taken up through diplomatic channels both in Islamabad and Washington.

A senior government official told The Express Tribune that Pakistan was contemplating a number of options to convey a strong message on drone strikes to the US. One such option includes pulling out of the Chicago summit scheduled for May. It was, however, not clear whether Islamabad was formally invited to the gathering of nearly 50 heads of states and governments.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman did request the Pakistani leadership during his recent trip to attend the summit, said the official. “The latest drone attack clearly is an attempt to discredit democracy in Pakistan,” added the official, who was part of recent negotiations between Islamabad and Washington.

Abandoned school targeted

The latest strike took place in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, on Sunday.The drone fired two missiles targeting an abandoned girls’ high school building used by militants, officials said. The school which is located in Qari Masjid village was abandoned by schoolchildren due militancy in the area.

“The building had been taken over by militants,” a local resident said. An official from the area confirmed that three people have been killed and two wounded. “However, there are reports that there might be six suspected militants killed,” he added. Another security official said the compound was used mainly by Uzbek and Tajik militants.

[Shardul.....the lion]

Pakistan government showing spine and threatening boycott.

But I am surprised not a single comment on this thread from anybody.

[jbgt90]

US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman did request the Pakistani leadership during his recent trip to attend the summit, said the official. “The latest drone attack clearly is an attempt to discredit democracy in Pakistan,” added the official, who was part of recent negotiations between Islamabad and Washington.

Abandoned school targeted

The latest strike took place in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, on Sunday.The drone fired two missiles targeting an abandoned girls’ high school building used by militants, officials said. The school which is located in Qari Masjid village was abandoned by schoolchildren due militancy in the area.

“The building had been taken over by militants,” a local resident said. An official from the area confirmed that three people have been killed and two wounded. “However, there are reports that there might be six suspected militants killed,” he added. Another security official said the compound was used mainly by Uzbek and Tajik militants.

this is whats surprising , on one hand officials say these attacks undermine democracy , but militants who force girls out of theri own schools do not?

[regular]

I wonder! where did Pakistan get its balls to take a stance like that.......

[Leviza]

US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman did request the Pakistani leadership during his recent trip to attend the summit, said the official. “The latest drone attack clearly is an attempt to discredit democracy in Pakistan,” added the official, who was part of recent negotiations between Islamabad and Washington.

Abandoned school targeted

The latest strike took place in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, on Sunday.The drone fired two missiles targeting an abandoned girls’ high school building used by militants, officials said. The school which is located in Qari Masjid village was abandoned by schoolchildren due militancy in the area.

“The building had been taken over by militants,” a local resident said. An official from the area confirmed that three people have been killed and two wounded. “However, there are reports that there might be six suspected militants killed,” he added. Another security official said te compound was used mainly by Uzbek and Tajik militants.

this is whats surprising , on one hand officials say these attacks undermine democracy , but militants who force girls out of theri own schools do not?

r

yes people our people are evil ... go and do what ever you can do ...

Even if there are 100000 wrong people in one place there is no single reason for kill them without trails in the court of law (NOT US)

[karan.1970]

r

yes people our people are evil ... go and do what ever you can do ...

Even if there are 100000 wrong people in one place there is no single reason for kill them without trails in the court of law (NOT US)

Do you allow that trial to the militants killed by your security forces in your tribal regions?

[Papa]

These evil m0r0ns should be down wherever they are. Either temple, mosque, church or even a school. Past says that nothing will change after boycott summit. Even I won't surprise if GOP decides to attend.

[Tameem]

Pakistan government showing spine and threatening boycott.

But I am surprised not a single comment on this thread from anybody.

You are absolutely right!!

Their is certainly a trust deficit upon this government by people at large. moreover, on PDF its convenient for members to politically align with PTI / IK, which have zero representation in a parliament who just recently passed the future foreign policy guidelines unanimously, for them a stand like that from this government in a complete harmony with parliament is actually unwarranted and against the sheer propaganda they are feeded with day in and day out , how do they praise it on principles and just for slightest of glimpse here and there.

[roshangjha]

Islamabad (CNN) -- Pakistan is condemning a suspected U.S. drone strike in one of its tribal regions that killed three people, raising questions about whether it will derail efforts between Islamabad and Washington to ease tensions over such attacks.

The suspected drone strike Sunday targeted a high school in the North Waziristan city of Miranshah where militants were hiding, intelligence officials said. North Waziristan is one of seven districts in Pakistan's tribal region that is believed to be a haven for militant groups.

"Such attacks are in total contravention of international law and established norms of interstate relations. The Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone attacks are violations of its territorial integrity and sovereignty," according to a statement released Sunday by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The matter will be taken up through diplomatic channels both in Islamabad and Washington."

The suspected drone strike in North Waziristan comes several weeks after Pakistani lawmakers approved a list of recommendations that includes a call for an immediate end to U.S. drone attacks.

There has been a sharp drop in the number of drone attacks in Pakistan since a November NATO airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the country's border with Afghanistan, driving U.S.- Pakistan relations to a low point.

Last week U.S. and Pakistani officials met in Pakistan to discuss relations between the two nations in the first in-depth talks since Pakistan's parliament rolled out a set of new guidelines for its relations with the United States, in which it agreed to re-engage with Washington after months of tension.

The list of parliamentary recommendations, approved by lawmakers and announced April 12, said that future relations with the United States should be based on mutual interest, and that no overt or covert operations -- including private security companies or operatives -- will be allowed on Pakistani soil.

U.S. officials rarely discuss the CIA's drone program in Pakistan, though privately they have said the covert strikes are legal and an effective tactic in the fight against extremists.

In January, President Barack Obama defended the use of drone attacks, saying a "pinpoint strike" is "less intrusive" on other countries' sovereignty than other military ways to target al Qaeda.

"Our ability to respect the sovereignty of other countries and to limit our incursions into somebody else's territory is enhanced by the fact that we are able to pinpoint-strike an al Qaeda operative in a place where the capacities of that military in that country may not be able to get them," Obama said.





So, while Pakistan is busy boycotting, America hits again with drones.

[sangsharma]

Islamabad (CNN) -- Pakistan is condemning a suspected U.S. drone strike in one of its tribal regions that killed three people, raising questions about whether it will derail efforts between Islamabad and Washington to ease tensions over such attacks.

The suspected drone strike Sunday targeted a high school in the North Waziristan city of Miranshah where militants were hiding, intelligence officials said. North Waziristan is one of seven districts in Pakistan's tribal region that is believed to be a haven for militant groups.

"Such attacks are in total contravention of international law and established norms of interstate relations. The Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone attacks are violations of its territorial integrity and sovereignty," according to a statement released Sunday by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The matter will be taken up through diplomatic channels both in Islamabad and Washington."

The suspected drone strike in North Waziristan comes several weeks after Pakistani lawmakers approved a list of recommendations that includes a call for an immediate end to U.S. drone attacks.

There has been a sharp drop in the number of drone attacks in Pakistan since a November NATO airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the country's border with Afghanistan, driving U.S.- Pakistan relations to a low point.

Last week U.S. and Pakistani officials met in Pakistan to discuss relations between the two nations in the first in-depth talks since Pakistan's parliament rolled out a set of new guidelines for its relations with the United States, in which it agreed to re-engage with Washington after months of tension.

The list of parliamentary recommendations, approved by lawmakers and announced April 12, said that future relations with the United States should be based on mutual interest, and that no overt or covert operations -- including private security companies or operatives -- will be allowed on Pakistani soil.

U.S. officials rarely discuss the CIA's drone program in Pakistan, though privately they have said the covert strikes are legal and an effective tactic in the fight against extremists.

In January, President Barack Obama defended the use of drone attacks, saying a "pinpoint strike" is "less intrusive" on other countries' sovereignty than other military ways to target al Qaeda.

"Our ability to respect the sovereignty of other countries and to limit our incursions into somebody else's territory is enhanced by the fact that we are able to pinpoint-strike an al Qaeda operative in a place where the capacities of that military in that country may not be able to get them," Obama said.





So, while Pakistan is busy boycotting, America hits again with drones.

.

What can they do? I am sure their military has some backdoor deal with USA.

[Adnan Faruqi]

Why condemn??????

Why don't shoot it down if it violates pakistani laws, kills pakistani people and make a joke of nation's sovereignty???

[IPL5]

Few days back there was a thread that pakistan should make or test ICBM... I think pakistan priority should be to make something which can shoot down this drones.

[DV RULES]

.

What can they do? I am sure their military has some backdoor deal with USA.

Exactly. These protests are political covers for backdoor deals.

[nuclearpak]

THis is absolutely fookin ridiculous.

Ruling governments do not condemn things, they take action against them.

This is turning beyond a joke now.

A con PM, whose whole family is neck deep in corruption, and now this.

[roshangjha]

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Pakistani PM strikes moderate tone after US attack

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's prime minister struck a moderate tone Monday amid criticism of the U.S. for carrying out its first drone strike in the country since parliament demanded that Washington end the attacks two weeks ago.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's comments could indicate the government does not want the drone issue to torpedo attempts to patch up ties with the U.S.

The strikes have complicated U.S. attempts to get Pakistan to reopen supply lines for NATO troops in Afghanistan that were closed in November in retaliation for American airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

For Pakistan, reconciliation could mean the freeing up of over $1 billion in U.S. military aid that has been frozen.

Pakistan's parliament approved new guidelines for the country's relationship with the U.S. in mid-April. Washington had hoped that parliament's decision could pave the way to reopen the supply lines. But the legislature's demand that drone strikes end threw a wrench in the process because U.S. officials have indicated they have no intention of stopping the covert CIA program.

When asked about the most recent strike, which killed three suspected Islamist militants Sunday, Gilani pointed out that the resolution passed by parliament also stipulated that foreign fighters must be expelled from the country and Pakistani soil should not be used to attack other countries.

"So, when we plan a strategy (with the U.S.), all these aspects would be discussed," said Gilani.

The U.S. has repeatedly demanded that Pakistan target Taliban and al-Qaida militants who use its territory to launch cross-border attacks against American troops in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani military has refused, claiming its forces are stretched too thin by operations against homegrown militants battling the government. However, many analysts believe Pakistan is reluctant to target militants with whom it has historical ties because they could be useful allies in Afghanistan after foreign forces withdraw.

The drone issue is complicated by the fact that some elements of the Pakistani government, including the military, have helped the U.S. carry out strikes in the past. That cooperation has come under strain as the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated, but many analysts believe some in the government still support the program at some level.

Even those Pakistani officials believed to support the attacks often protest them in public because they are so unpopular in the country. Many Pakistanis believe they most kill civilians, an allegation disputed by the U.S. and independent research.

The latest attack Sunday killed three suspected militants sheltering in an abandoned school in the North Waziristan tribal area along the Afghan border, said Pakistani intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement early Monday saying the strikes "are in total contravention of international law and established norms of interstate relations."

"The government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone attacks are violative of its territorial integrity and sovereignty," it said.

It's not the first time the U.S. has ignored Pakistan's parliament, which has called since 2008 for the drone strikes to end.

A Pakistani intelligence official said the most recent strike seemed to be a message from the U.S.

"It's a message that things are going to continue as usual irrespective of what we say," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

President Barack Obama significantly ramped up strikes in Pakistan when he took office in 2009, and while the U.S. has said little publicly about the attacks, American officials have argued in private that they are critical to targeting Taliban and al-Qaida fighters who threaten the West.

Drones are not the only issue complicating Pakistan's decision to reopen the NATO supply lines.

The country's parliament has also demanded that the U.S. provide an "unconditional apology" for the deaths of the Pakistani troops in November. The U.S. has expressed regret, but has declined to apologize — a decision that appears to be driven by domestic political considerations. The U.S. has said its troops fired in self-defense — a claim disputed by Pakistan — and the White House could be concerned about Republican criticism if it apologizes.


The Associated Press: Pakistani PM strikes moderate tone after US attack