Zardari asks US to give Pakistan drone technology
25 Jun 2009, 2237 hrs IST, PTI
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari asked the US to give his country the drone technology to boost its capability to take on the Taliban
as he expressed concern about missile strikes on its soil, two days after attacks killed over 80 people in South Waziristan.
Zardari told visiting US National Security Advisor James Jones that the Americans should give Pakistan the drone technology "for boosting its indigenous capacity to eliminate militants from its soil".
Two drone attacks on Tuesday in South Waziristan, the stronghold of local Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, killed over 80 people, including several civilians.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly news briefing that such strikes are not acceptable and must be stopped as these are counterproductive for the war on terror.
"Pakistan's position on this issue is very clear — these drone attacks are counterproductive and have more disadvantages than advantages," he said. Basit stressed the need for the US to review its policy of drone attacks.
During his meeting with Jones, Zardari said Pakistan "needed much more assistance" to rehabilitate people displaced by the operations against militants in the country's northwest and to embark on a massive socio-economic development programme of the area.
The socio-economic development would "banish poverty and thereby the forces of militancy" he said.
Zardari asks US to give Pakistan drone technology - Pakistan - World - The Times of India
25 Jun 2009, 2237 hrs IST, PTI
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari asked the US to give his country the drone technology to boost its capability to take on the Taliban
as he expressed concern about missile strikes on its soil, two days after attacks killed over 80 people in South Waziristan.
Zardari told visiting US National Security Advisor James Jones that the Americans should give Pakistan the drone technology "for boosting its indigenous capacity to eliminate militants from its soil".
Two drone attacks on Tuesday in South Waziristan, the stronghold of local Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, killed over 80 people, including several civilians.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly news briefing that such strikes are not acceptable and must be stopped as these are counterproductive for the war on terror.
"Pakistan's position on this issue is very clear — these drone attacks are counterproductive and have more disadvantages than advantages," he said. Basit stressed the need for the US to review its policy of drone attacks.
During his meeting with Jones, Zardari said Pakistan "needed much more assistance" to rehabilitate people displaced by the operations against militants in the country's northwest and to embark on a massive socio-economic development programme of the area.
The socio-economic development would "banish poverty and thereby the forces of militancy" he said.
Zardari asks US to give Pakistan drone technology - Pakistan - World - The Times of India