Pak summons US envoy over Bannu drone attack

Islamabad, Nov 21 : The Pakistan Government last evening reportedly summoned US envoy Anne Pietersen o register protests over Wednesday's US drone attack on Bannu, the first strike outside Pakistan's tribal areas.

On the occasion, the country's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi reiterated Pakistan's stance over US violations of its sovereignty, saying that the 'unilateral attacks' were not helping counter-terrorism efforts, the Daily Times quoted sources as saying.

Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said that the foreign secretary had conveyed Pakistan's condemnation of the attack to the US ambassador. "The foreign secretary also emphasised that the drone attacks are undermining public support for the government's counter-terrorism efforts ... and stressed the attacks must be stopped," he told reporters.

He further stated that Pakistan would call on India to share the latest findings on the Samjhota train blast - a reference to the involvement of an Indian Army officer and right-wing Hindu parties in the attack.

The spokesman said that the ongoing state elections in Kashmir were "not an authentic expression" of the aspirations of Kashmiris. He said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband would visit Pakistan on November 26, and hold talks with the foreign minister, the president, the prime minister and the chief of army staff.

ANI