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Pakistan to file UN protest against US
Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:56AM GMT
PressTV - Pakistan to file UN protest against US
US drone strike has flattened a house n Jani khel region of Pakistan, March 2009. (file photo)
The Pakistani government has decided to lodge a complaint with the United Nations on unauthorized US drone attacks against civilians with the pretext of targeting militants, Press TV reports.
Speaking in a press briefing in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Monday, advisor to the country's Prime Minister, Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, said that the issue of US drone attacks in Pakistan will be discussed among government officials and then a formal complaint will be lodged against the United States.
He said that the drone attacks violate Pakistan's territorial sovereignty and are not at all acceptable.
The US has carried out numerous drone attacks against Pakistan's tribal areas since 2008 but there has been a significant surge in such attacks over the past few months.
There is a growing consensus among international law experts that these strikes can be aptly described as “Target Killings” or “Extra Judicial Killings” primarily because the targets are being 'taken out' without giving them opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law.
The drone strikes, initiated by former US President George W. Bush, have been escalated under President Barack Obama, who had pledged major changes in toning down American foreign military engagements.
Despite Washington's claim that the drone strikes target militants and their strongholds, victims of such attacks have reportedly been predominantly civilians.
AO/MMA/MB
Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:56AM GMT
PressTV - Pakistan to file UN protest against US
US drone strike has flattened a house n Jani khel region of Pakistan, March 2009. (file photo)
The Pakistani government has decided to lodge a complaint with the United Nations on unauthorized US drone attacks against civilians with the pretext of targeting militants, Press TV reports.
Speaking in a press briefing in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Monday, advisor to the country's Prime Minister, Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, said that the issue of US drone attacks in Pakistan will be discussed among government officials and then a formal complaint will be lodged against the United States.
He said that the drone attacks violate Pakistan's territorial sovereignty and are not at all acceptable.
The US has carried out numerous drone attacks against Pakistan's tribal areas since 2008 but there has been a significant surge in such attacks over the past few months.
There is a growing consensus among international law experts that these strikes can be aptly described as “Target Killings” or “Extra Judicial Killings” primarily because the targets are being 'taken out' without giving them opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law.
The drone strikes, initiated by former US President George W. Bush, have been escalated under President Barack Obama, who had pledged major changes in toning down American foreign military engagements.
Despite Washington's claim that the drone strikes target militants and their strongholds, victims of such attacks have reportedly been predominantly civilians.
AO/MMA/MB
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