Pakistani PM: Drones have counterproductive impact

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told European envoys in Islamabad Tuesday that the American drone attacks in the country's northwestern tribal regions have counterproductive impact on the war on terror. The Prime Minister made the remarks shortly after the parliament unanimously adopted a resolution, demanding halt to these attacks. "You are fully aware of the counterproductive impact of the continuing drone strikes. We are fully engaged in sensitizing the international community about the impact of these attacks and persuading it to find ways and means to curb terrorism that are not counterproductive," Sharif said at a luncheon he hosted for the European diplomats. He raised the issue in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel in Islamabad on Monday. However there has been no response from the Pentagon chief in statement issued by the U.S. embassy and the Pentagon about Hagel's visit. Pakistan last month accused the United States of sabotaging its efforts to hold peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban after a U.S. drone killed the militant group's chief Hakimullah Mehsud. The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution, demanding an immediate halt to U.S. drone attacks on Pakistani territory. The resolution strongly condemned the U.S. drone attacks saying these constitute violation of the principles of the Charter of United Nations, international laws and humanitarian norms. Cabinet minister Abdul Qadir Baloch said the government has strongly opposed the drone strikes from day one and maintained that these amount to violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. He said the government is using diplomatic channels to call for an end to the drone attacks as these are counterproductive for peace and security in the region. Nawaz Sharif told the European envoys that his government is determined to rid Pakistan of terrorism and extremism. "This menace is complex in nature and is rooted in the events of the past three decades, having global, regional and local dimensions," he said. Related: Pakistani PM conveys "deep concern" to U.S. Hagel over drone attacks