Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told the parliament on Tuesday that Pakistan is concerned about the increasing missile attacks in its tribal areas by the U.S. and NATO drones, and the country's sovereignty will be safeguarded at all costs.
Pakistan's tribal areas along the Afghan border have seen increasing missile attacks by U.S. drones targeting Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants, which prompted anger and protest in the country.
While speaking to the National Assembly, or lower house of the parliament, Gilani said he had met with the U.S. ambassador and intelligence officials and expressed Pakistan's concern about these attacks.
"Pakistani soil will not be allowed to be used for ground or aerial attacks on any other country," the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Gilani as saying.
"Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity will be safeguarded at all costs," Gilani said.
Reports said that the U.S. drones have carried out 18 strikes in the tribal regions since August.
Gilani said President Asif Ali Zardari will have a chance to take up the issue with U.S. administration while attending high-level session of UN General Assembly in New York between Nov. 12 to 13.
Zardari, in an interview with the Associated Press on Monday, warned the surge in missile attacks was hurting Pakistan's own fight against the Al-Qaeda and Taliban.
"We feel that the strikes are an intrusion on our sovereignty which are not appreciated by the people at large, and the first aspect of this war is to win the hearts and minds of the people," Zardari said.
Source: Xinhua
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