US strikes leading to suicide attacks in Pak: Gilani

Islamabad, Nov 24: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the US missile strikes were 'undermining Pakistan Army's strategy' to control the situation in the Tribal Areas, and that some suicide attacks were a "direct result of US attacks".

He said Pakistan did not have an agreement with the US to allow it to carry out attacks on al Qaeda and Taliban targets inside Pakistan. "As far as my government is concerned, certainly we have no agreement with the US to continue air attacks inside the Pakistan area," the Daily Times quoted Gilani as saying in an interview with CNN. The prime minister also said such attacks would increase sentiments against the US, NATO and the West.

To a question whether Pakistan had plans to shoot down the drones, he said, "That is not the case. But, we have to form a strategy in future." The government would decide on a strategy to stop the strikes, he added.

He said US president-elect Barack Obama "seems to be a genuine and straightforward person".

ANI