Pakistan says US drone strikes 'counter-productive'

Islamabad, Jan 28 (ANI): Pakistan on Wednesday hit back against US Defence Secretary Robert Gates statement by saying that US drone strikes inside its tribal areas were "counter-productive" to anti-terrorism efforts.

"Our policy remains unchanged and we believe drone strikes are counter-productive," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said.

Speaking in response to a statement from Gates that the United States would "go after al-Qaeda wherever al-Qaeda is" and affirming that the new US Administration's position had been transmitted to the Pakistani Government.

"Both President (George W.) Bush and President (Barack) Obama have made clear we will go after al Qaeda wherever al-Qaeda is, and we will continue to pursue that," Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

But the Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman branded the strikes by drones "counterproductive to our efforts to counter terrorism."

He declined to make any further comment, The News reported.

Two missile strikes in South and North Waziristan, on Pakistan's side of the border with Afghanistan, where US and NATO-led forces are battling Taliban insurgents, on Friday last week were the first such attacks since Obama took office. (ANI)