ISLAMABAD: Pakistan told the United States that any drone strikes conducted by the latter in Pakistani territory in the future would be detrimental to the relationship between the two countries, Dawn reported.
Sartaj Aziz , adviser to the Pakistani prime minister on foreign affairs, conveyed the sentiments during high-level talks between Pakistan officials and a visiting US delegation of senior White House officials on Friday.
The US side was led by Richard Olson, US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Dr. Peter Lavoy, senior director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the US National Security Council. The Pakistan side was represented by Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.
Aziz told the US officials that the May 21 drone strike in Balochistan, which killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, “was not only a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and breach of the principles of the United Nation’s Charter, but has also vitiated bilateral ties.”
The two sides held candid discussions on bilateral relations, regional security situation and the Afghan peace process in wake of the US drone strike in Pakistan, said a Foreign Office statement.
The adviser expressed his concern that the drone strike had “seriously undermined the ongoing efforts for Afghan peace and reconciliation process at a time when Pakistan, along with other Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) countries, was engaged in serious efforts to revive peace talks between Afghan government and the Taliban.”
The foreign secretary reminded the delegation that it was decided in QCG’s fifth meeting on May 18 this year that peace negotiations remained the only option for a political settlement.
Sartaj Aziz , adviser to the Pakistani prime minister on foreign affairs, conveyed the sentiments during high-level talks between Pakistan officials and a visiting US delegation of senior White House officials on Friday.
The US side was led by Richard Olson, US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Dr. Peter Lavoy, senior director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the US National Security Council. The Pakistan side was represented by Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.
Aziz told the US officials that the May 21 drone strike in Balochistan, which killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, “was not only a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and breach of the principles of the United Nation’s Charter, but has also vitiated bilateral ties.”
The two sides held candid discussions on bilateral relations, regional security situation and the Afghan peace process in wake of the US drone strike in Pakistan, said a Foreign Office statement.
The adviser expressed his concern that the drone strike had “seriously undermined the ongoing efforts for Afghan peace and reconciliation process at a time when Pakistan, along with other Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) countries, was engaged in serious efforts to revive peace talks between Afghan government and the Taliban.”
The foreign secretary reminded the delegation that it was decided in QCG’s fifth meeting on May 18 this year that peace negotiations remained the only option for a political settlement.
