Drone strike that killed Taliban chief vitiated ties:Pak to US
12 Jun 2016 4:23 AM IST
A US delegation which included senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the US National Security Council Peter Lavoy and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson arrived here this morning and held talks with Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders.
Lavoy called on Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry. Aziz told the US officials that the May 21 drone strike in Balochistan, which killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, “was not only a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and breach of the principles of the United Nation’s Charter, but has also vitiated bilateral ties”.
General John Nicholson, Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, and Olson called on Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif.
“Regional security situation, with particular reference to border management and peace and stability in Afghanistan in the post the US drone strike came under discussion,” an Inter-Services Public Relations statement said after the meeting. Expressing “serious concern” on the US drone strike in Balochistan as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, General Raheel highlighted as to how it had impacted the mutual trust and respect and was counter productive in consolidating the gains of ‘Operation Zarb-e-Azb’ that was targeted at militants.
The army chief stressed that the US action was counter- productive in consolidating the gains of Pakistan military operation in the tribal regions.
“All efforts for durable peace in the region have to be synergised with shared commitment and responsibility in order to make them successful,” Raheel was quoted as saying.
Raheel said that while the operation was launched against terrorists of all hues and sanctuaries of terrorists have been dismantled without discrimination, all stakeholders need to understand Pakistan’s
challenges with regard to porous border, inter-tribal linkages and presence of over three million refugees.
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