Pakistan: Pakistan has condemned the non-UN-sanctioned US assassination drone strikes in the northwestern tribal belt of the country as “unlawful and counterproductive,” Press TV reports.

“We are of the firm view that these are unlawful, counterproductive and hence unacceptable,” Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdul Basit said on Tuesday.

He added that, “Our view has always been very clear and position principled.” The remarks came as US President Barack Obama confirmed for the first time on Monday that drone aircraft have struck targets within Pakistan. Washington had never officially acknowledged the operations before.

President Obama added that “a lot of these strikes have been in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas).”

The US regularly carries out attacks by unmanned aircraft on Pakistan's tribal regions, claiming that the airstrikes target militants affiliated with the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorist groups, but locals say civilians are the main victims.

The aerial attacks, initiated by former US President George W. Bush, have escalated under President Barack Obama.

Press TV

Posted on Thursday, February 02, 2012 @ 06:14:06 LKT by SaNDuN

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