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RAWALPINDI: The Pakistani Army Chief of Staff General Raheel Sharif has conveyed serious concern to the US Ambassador to Pakistan over a drone strike that targeted the Taliban Chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.
According to the local media reports, Gen. Sharif conveyed his concern over the airstrike during a meeting at Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters.
“While expressing his serious concerns over the said drone strike, COAS said such acts of sovereignty violations are detrimental to relations between both countries and are counter-productive for ongoing peace process for regional stability,” a statement by Inter Service Public Relations said.
Earlier the US Ambassador to Pakistan was summoned by the country’s foreign ministry over the airstrike killing Taliban leader in Balochistan province.
“The Ambassador of the United States Mr. David Hale was called in today by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, to express concern over the drone strike on Pakistani territory on Saturday, 21 May 2016,” a statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Pakistan said.
The statement further added “In the meeting, Mr. Tariq Fatemi pointed out that the drone strike was a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and a breach of the United Nation’s Charter that guarantees the inviolability of the territorial integrity of its member states.”
The Taliban Chief was targeted in Pakistan late on Saturday afternoon as he was travelling in a vehicle.
This comes as the Afghan officials have long been criticizing Pakistan for allowing the anti-government armed militant groups to use its soil from where they plan and coordinate attacks in Afghanistan. -KP
THE PASHTUN TIMES
