Pakistan reiterates call to halt US drone strikes completely

Eurasia News

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan wants complete halt to the US drone attacks instead of decrease in them.

The statement came two days after the Washington Post published a report which stated that the US government has sharply curtailed drone strikes in Pakistan after Islamabad asked for restraint as it is set to begin peace dialogue process with the Taliban.

In her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that Pakistan’s stance over drone strikes is clear as these are in violation of its sovereignty and this stance has also been endorsed by the international community.

To a question‚ the spokesperson said that bus service across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir has been restored while it is expected that truck service will be restored soon.

The FO spokesperson said that Pakistan has accepted an Indian proposal of early convening a meeting of working group to discuss the LoC trade in order to revisit the modalities in this regard.

Tasneem Aslam said that Pakistan wants to resolve all disputes with India through dialogue for lasting peace in the region.

Regarding visits of Saudi high officials‚ the spokesperson said that Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman is visiting Pakistan today (Thursday) on a two-day visit. During his stay‚ he will meet the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other officials.