New Delhi, June 7 (ANI): US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said that drone attacks in Pakistan will continue as long as America needs to defend itself against terrorist threats.
Panetta's remarks came just two days after a drone strike killed Al-Qaeda's second-in-command in Pakistan.
Speaking in Delhi, Panetta unapologetically dismissed suggestions that the strikes could violate Pakistan's sovereignty.
"This is about our sovereignty as well," he added.
According to Fox News, he also talked bluntly about the difficulties in the U.S. relationship with Pakistan, as insurgents continue to find safe haven there.
"It's a complicated relationship, often times frustrating, often times difficult. They have provided some cooperation. There are other times when frankly that cooperation is not there," the report quoted Panetta, as saying.
"But the United States cannot just walk away from that relationship. We have to continue to do what we can to try to improve (the) areas where we can find some mutual cooperation," he added.
Panetta also publically urged India to work towards a better relationship with Pakistan.
He stressed that both the U.S. and India must overcome deep differences with Pakistan to bolster peace and security in South Asia.
"Pakistan is a complicated relationship, complicated for both of our countries but it is one that we must continue to work to improve," Panetta said.
"India and the United States will need to continue to engage Pakistan, overcoming our respective-and often deep-differences with Pakistan to make all of South Asia peaceful and prosperous," he added. (ANI)
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