Islamabad, Sept. 28 (ANI): Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while responding to a report published by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) about drone attacks in Pakistan, has categorically rejected the insinuation that Pakistan clears airspace for U.S. drone strikes.
The Ministry, in its statement, reiterated Pakistan's long-standing position on drone attacks that they are illegal, counterproductive, in contravention of international law and a violation of Pakistani sovereignty, reports The Express Tribune.
"There can be no question of Pakistan's agreement to such attacks," the statement read.
Earlier on Wednesday, the WSJ had said in a report that Pakistan clears airspace of a certain area where a drone attack is planned, in correspondence with the faxes its intelligence service receives once a month from U.S.' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
According to the report, the intended target areas are "outlined" to the Pakistani intelligence service which posits that Pakistan then gives an unspoken consent to the U.S. forces to conduct these strikes within its borders by clearing the airspace and does not "interfere physically with the unpiloted aircraft in flight."
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar while speaking at the Asia Society in New York said that Pakistan does not disagree with what drones are trying to achieve by targeting terrorists, but that they remain unlawful and illegal.
She added that Pakistan is working with the U.S. government on resolving this issue.
Khar, however, refused to comment on the WSJ's story on drones, maintaining that drone strikes are a reason why the U.S. is unpopular in Pakistan. (ANI)
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