Pakistan Protests Missile Strikes | Voice of America - English
There is a widespread anger and outrage in Pakistan over the latest suspected U.S. missile strike against a terrorist target deep inside the country.  Taliban militants have threatened to launch revenge attacks across Pakistan unless the United States puts an end to the attacks.  Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad the foreign ministry summoned the U.S ambassador to protest the missile strikes, saying they are undermining public support for Pakistan's anti-terror campaign.
In thepast two months, the United States is believed to have launched about20 missile strikes targeting al-Qaida and Taliban bases in Pakistan'ssemi-autonomous tribal region that borders Afghanistan. The attacksare said to have killed dozens of people. The United Statesneither confirms nor denies it is behind the missile strikes, but U.S.officials are reported as saying they have killed key al-Qaidaoperatives in Pakistan in recent months. On Wednesday, asuspected U.S. missile strike hit a target outside the tribal area inthe district of Bannu. The strike killed several al-Qaida-linkedmilitants. That strike, which was deep inside Pakistanoutraged the government and opposition parties. U.S. ambassador AnnPaterson was summoned to the foreign ministry to receive a strongprotest. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Sadiq says theU.S. ambassador was told these attacks must be stopped. "So [the U.S.]ambassador of course, she was summoned," he said. "This is a diplomaticstep. She assured us that she would convey our concerns and ourposition to the U.S government." Earlier, speaking in theNational Assembly, parliament's lower house, Prime Minister YousafRaza Gilani called the missile attacks "intolerable", saying they arecounterproductive for Pakistan's war against terrorism and are addingto his government's problems. Mr. Gilani voiced hope thatPresident-elect Barack Obama's administration will show more restraintand these attacks will be stopped. But critics of Pakistan'sgovernment allege a secret deal between Islamabad and Washington haspaved the way for U.S. missile strikes inside Pakistani territory, acharge Prime Minister Gilani and other officials have denied. Theopposition leader in the National Assembly, Nisar Ali Khan, says merecriticism of the missile strikes on part of the government is notenough. "Over the last five weeks the number of drone attackshas multiplied," he said. "We should say enough is enough. We shouldsend a clear message to our friends, the Americans, that in case thereis another drone attack then we should review the facilities fortransit that we have provided to our American friends for passingthrough the territory of Pakistan" Meanwhile, Taliban militantsin the North Waziristan tribal region have threatened to carry outsuicide attacks on foreigners and official targets if there are new U.S.attacks.