Nawaz Sharif expresses concern over US drone strikes

Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif Friday expressed strong reservations over U.S. drone attacks in the Pakistani territory, local media reported. Nawaz Sharif said in a statement that the drone strikes were not only violation of Pakistan's sovereignty but also against international laws and UN charter. A spokesman for Nawaz Sharif said that the concern was conveyed to the U.S. charg d'affaires in Islamabad. The statement came a day after the Pakistani Taliban withdrew ceasefire offer as an unmanned drone killed Waliur Rehman, a Taliban leader, in North Waziristan tribal region near Afghan border. The Taliban had offered peace talks to the new government, raising hopes for an end to the on-going Taliban insurgency. But the U.S. drone strike has now diminished the chance of dialogue. Waliur Rehman was believed to be a strong supporter of peace talks, according to Taliban leaders. Earlier, a senior leader of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party said that Sharif will devise a policy on the U.S. drone attacks which are violation of the country's national sovereignty. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the media that all stakeholders will be taken into confidence before announcing the policy on drone attacks. He said that drone attacks obstruct peace efforts as they help regroup the militants.