The use of drones by the U.S. to target alleged terrorists has created a great deal of controversy due to the loss of lives of innocent people coupled with the extrajudicial nature of the targeted killings. Al Jazeera has reported on Feb. 8, 2013, Pakistan urges US to end drone strikes. A senior Pakistani official has said Pakistan is holding talks with the United States to end drone strikes against suspected Taliban fighters.
Jalil Abbas Jilani, the administrative head of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, has told members of Parliament in Islamabad, "Drone attacks are against sovereignty of Pakistan, against international law and against the UN charter." Jilani has also said, "Innocent people have been killed in these attacks. We are having talks with the US to stop the drone attacks and we hope for a positive outcome of the dialogue and hope that drone attacks will stop." These attacks, which are being operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), have seriously strained Pakistan's relations with the US.
Robert Siegel has also reported on the highly controversial drone strikesfor NPR, Pakistan Says U.S. Drone Strikes Violate Its Sovereignty. Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. Sherry Rehman has said the use of drones was a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and international law. And throughout Pakistan, the popular reaction to the drone strikes has been vociferously negative.
