News
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Drone attacks in Pakistan will continue: PanettaNEW DELHI: Pentagon chief Leon Panetta said on Wednesday the US would continue to launch drone attacks against al Qaeda in Pakistan despite complaints from Islamabad that the strikes violate its sovereignty. “We have made it very clear that we are going to continue to defend ourselves,” US Defence Secretary Panetta said in India. “This is about our sovereignty as well,” Panetta added, arguing that al Qaeda terrorists who orchestrated the September 11 attacks on the US were in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas. “The leadership of those who were involved in planning this attack are located in Pakistan, in the FATA,” he said. Panetta also acknowledged that India and the US had “often deep” differences with Pakistan but said New Delhi and Washington needed to work to overcome them. “Pakistan is a complicated relationship for both of our countries but one that we must work to improve,” he said in a speech at a think-tank. “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. afp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk