Imran Khan asks President Obama to stop drone attacks

Gurgaon, Nov 7: Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician

said on Wednesday that he hoped President

, who won her second term in office on Tuesday, would work to give peace a chance and stop US drone attacks on Pakistani soil.

Khan, leader of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) party, has extensively campaigned to end US drone strikes against suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in the country's tribal areas, saying the action only resulted in civilian casualties.

Khan, who was attending the India World Economic Forum here, said Pakistan would expect de-escalation of violence in Afghanistan and ending drone attacks in its tribal regions. He said Obama's first term saw a tough US stand on Pakistan and it only led to rise of militancy in the latter's soil. The PTI chief said he hoped Obama would now allow peace, which is so desperately sought after by Islamabad, a chance for the pressure on him to get re-elected is now over.

Khan, to whom drone attacks are illegal and counterproductive, led a march last month to the edge of Pakistan's volatile tribal districts to protest against the US action. He was accompanied by thousands of supporters and even some US peace activists. He also wanted Washington to declare a ceasefire in Afghanistan, saying any miscalculation in this regard could lead to worse consequences for the violence-torn country.

The White House has already declared that the USA will gradually hand over security of Afghanistan to the local people and withdraw its troops by the end of 2014.

On the continued drone attack in Pakistan, US authorities said it was an important weapon in the war against terror although peace activists have criticised such action as a violation of international law.

OneIndia News