Pakistan demands apology from USA

Islamabad, Mar 18: Its tension once again in the relations of the USA and Pakistan. After US secured the release of Raymond Davis, allegedly by paying off 'blood money', the new conflict has come up in the issue of the drone attacks in the tribal belts of the south-east Asian nation.

Pakistan has now demanded an "apology and explanation", from the US for the drone strikes in the country's tribal belt that has left 41 people dead.

A statement issued by Pakistan's Foreign Office spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua, said, “The government of Pakistan strongly condemns (the) drone attacks which have resulted in a large number of casualties. This is not only unacceptable but also a flagrant violation of all humanitarian rules and norms."

In another statement issued by the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, it said, “(the attack) will only strengthen the hands of radical and extremist elements...Such irrational behaviour negatively impact the efforts to separate the militants from the peaceful and patriotic tribesmen" and that “such attacks will bode very negatively on our joint efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism."

Reports say that Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and the country's ambassador to the USA Hussain Haqqani have lodged strong protests with the US and demanded an unconditional apology and also an explanation on the matter.

The drone attacks, that have left 41 dead in North Waziristan, came a day after Raymond Davis, a CIA man accused of gunning down two Pakistani citizens was let off by a court. Reports suggest that Davis was freed after over $2 million was paid to the family of the two deceased men gunned by him.

OneIndia News