Islamabad: Pakistan strongly denounced a new US drone attack on its tribal territory in the early hours of Friday that reportedly killed four suspected militants.
A drone fired two missiles at a house located about eight kilometres from Miramshah, the main town in the tribal area of North Waziristan, known to be a hub of foreign and local militants.
Reports quoting security sources said four suspected militants were killed and two injured in the missile strike.
“The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the US drone strike,” said a statement issued by the foreign affairs ministry.
The said said that “these unilateral strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Pakistan has repeatedly emphasised the importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes, it said.
“The Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications. Such strikes also set dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations.
“These drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.
Friday’s attack was the fourth since the new government headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assumed control in Pakistan on June 5.
During a visit to Islamabad in the beginning of August, US Seretary of State John Kerry had stated that drone attacks would not end.
Later, Prime Minister Sharif’s adviser on national security and foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz also said in television talk show that the US was unlikely to abandon the option of use of drones.
