Pakistani politician slams US drone attacks on Pakistani soil

Influential Pakistani lawmaker Imran Khan has called on the Islamabad government and military leaders to put an end to US assassination drone strikes in the country.

Khan, who is the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, told parliament members on Wednesday that a comprehensive approach was needed to bring an end to the brutal attacks.

Khan’s remarks were his first reaction to the US killer drone strikes since his party came second in Pakistan’s general election last month.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has criticized assassination drone strikes, saying they violate Pakistan’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, describing the CIA-operated strikes as a violation of international law and the UN charter.

Washington claims to target militants in the country but reports indicate that many of the drone strike victims are civilians.

A recent report by the British Bureau of Investigative Journalism says over 3,500 people have been killed in Pakistan by US drone attacks since 2004. Several prominent politicians and critics argue that the civilian deaths cause people to join militant groups.

Over the past several years, Washington has been launching drone attacks on Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, claiming that militants are the targets. However, casualty figures clearly indicate that civilians are the main victims.

The killing of Pakistani civilians, including women and children, has strained relations between Islamabad and Washington. The strikes have also triggered massive protests in Pakistan.