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| India-Pakistan |
| There are limits to cooperation, Pakistan tells US |
| 2009-12-05 |
| ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: Pakistan opposes expanded US drone attacks in its tribal areas, as well as any strikes on Balochistan, the foreign ministry said on Friday. The White House has authorised the expansion of the CIA’s drone programme in Pakistan to complement President Barack Obama’s plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing unnamed officials. It said that for the first time, US officials are talking to Islamabad about the possibility of hitting Balochistan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said there were limits to Pakistani cooperation, and the drone attacks were counter-productive. “This has never been part of our discussions. There are clear red-lines as far as we’re concerned,” he said when asked if there were any talks between Washington and Islamabad on expansion of drone attacks to Balochistan. “We have clearly conveyed our red-lines to them.” Drone attacks have created fierce anti-American sentiment in Pakistan. In October, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions Philip Alston said drone usage could be breaking international laws.“The onus is really on the United States government to reveal more about the ways in which it makes sure that arbitrary extrajudicial executions aren’t in fact being carried out through the use of these weapons,” he added.—Agencies |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #1 Yeah, when the money stops. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-12-05 11:30 |