Pakistan hasn't said yes to drone attacks, says Envoy Sherry Rehman

Washington, July 10 (ANI): The Pakistan Ambassador to the United States has said that Pakistan has not agreed to American drone strikes in its territory in exchange for Washington's apology over the Salala attacks, and continues to deem unilateral unmanned aerial attacks as a violation of international law.

"We have not agreed on anything. In fact, those conversations are yet to happen. The apology has opened the space for an opportunity where we can have constructive conversations that 'might be, might, that might be to the satisfaction of both sides.' Right now, we have given no go-ahead at all," The Dawn quoted Ambassador Sherry Rehman , as saying.

Rehman reiterated serious concerns the Pakistani people and Islamabad have over drone strikes on its territory.

"We consider ( drone attacks ) as counterproductive to all our goals in the sense that it radicalizes for the, it radicalizes foot soldiers, tribes and entire villages in our region. And what we see, really, is that increasingly Pakistan is feared as a predatory footprint. The concerns over drones 'can't just be' brushed aside," she said.

She drew attention to the need for acknowledgement of her country's huge sacrifices and successes in the fight against terror.

"We need to understand that certainly Pakistan is looking for some amount of strategic sympathy in the losses we have incurred over the last 10 years. We didn't have more than one suicide bombing before 2001," Rehman was quoted, as saying.

"While it may be seen as a tool that is absolutely precise and reduces collateral damage, I think that it is, it has far outweighed its, the damage it does really doesn't outweigh its benefits," Rehman further said.

"It is also seen as predatory. It is seen as against the law. And it continues to challenge a relationship that can actually accomplish a lot more on the ground than we are doing today in eliminating terrorism," she added. (ANI)