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November 5, 2013

Pakistani Province Backs Deadline for End to U.S. Drone Strikes 
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Local officials in a northwestern province of Pakistan have voted to
block NATO supply routes unless the United States puts an end to drone
attacks. A measure approved Monday gives the United States a deadline of
November 20 or face a blockade of its supply lines. The vote came in
response to the drone attack that killed Pakistani Taliban leader
Hakimullah Mehsud, jeopardizing renewed talks between the Taliban and
the Pakistani government. In his first public comments since the attack
that killed Mehsud, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif renewed his
call for an end to the drone strikes, and vowed to press ahead with the
Taliban peace talks.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif: "Our government, ladies and
gentlemen, is firmly resolved to bringing the cycle of bloodshed and
violence to an end, but it cannot be done over night, nor can it be done
by unleashing senseless force against our citizens, without first making
every effort to bring the misguided and confused elements of society,
back to the mainstream. The government of Pakistan has made its position
clear that drone strikes constituted a violation of Pakistan's
sovereignty, violative of international humanitarian laws, besides being
counter-productive to our efforts for bringing peace and stability in
Pakistan and the region."

 

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