Pakistan may boycott Chicago summit following fresh drone strikes by U.S.

Islamabad, Apr 30 (ANI): Pakistan may boycott the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago and delay its decision to reopen NATO supply routes in retaliation for the latest U.S. drone attack in North Waziristan Agency, Pakistan officials said.

The latest strike took place in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan. The drone fired two missiles targeting an abandoned girls' high school building used by militants, officials said. The school was abandoned by schoolchildren due militancy in the area.

This was the first such attack since parliament last month approved new guidelines on relations with the U.S., which included a call for an end to drone strikes in Pakistani territory.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office denounced the latest strike as "a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty".

"Such attacks are in total contravention of international law and established norms of interstate relations," it added. The matter would be taken up through diplomatic channels both in Islamabad and Washington.

A senior government official told The Express Tribune that Pakistan was contemplating a number of options to convey a strong message on drone strikes to the U.S. One such option includes pulling out of the Chicago summit scheduled for May. It was, however, not clear whether Islamabad was formally invited to the gathering of nearly 50 heads of states and governments.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman did request the Pakistani leadership during his recent trip to attend the summit, said the official. "The latest drone attack clearly is an attempt to discredit democracy in Pakistan," added the official. (ANI)