Pak FO spokesman calls US drone attacks “counterproductive”

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Abdul Basit has said that Pakistan has always been opposing the counterproductive US drone attacks, and has repeatedly expressed its concerns to America in this regard.

“These attacks are not helping our efforts to win hearts and minds of the people,” the Daily Times quoted Basit during his weekly briefing, as replying to a query on drone attacks.

He also described Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s tour of Europe, which was meant to acquaint the international community with the vast scale of devastation caused by floods and relief requirements, as successful.

The foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, had briefed the European leaders regarding the conditions and challenges being faced by Pakistan due to terrorism and floods, Basit added.

Speaking on the issue of the Afghan government’s talks with the Taliban, Basit said, “Pakistan welcomes Afghan government’s initiative of reconciliation and reintegration with the Taliban that is according to the London conference and recently held Kabul conference,” adding that this would be discussed during the Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s upcoming visit to Pakistan. (ANI)