US envoy summoned over drone strike

ISLAMABAD (AP):Just days after taking power, Pakistan's new government lodged a protest with the United States and summoned a top American envoy yesterday to vent its anger over an American drone strike that was said to have killed seven militants.

The move bolstered expectations that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government will, at least publicly, take a much harder line against such strikes, than its predecessor.

Last Friday night's drone strike near the Afghan border came just two days after Sharif was sworn in as prime minister and the same day his cabinet members took their oaths of office.

STRONG MANDATE

Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League handily won general elections last month and is expected to govern with a strong mandate because it doesn't need to rely on coalition parties.

Sharif, who wants to pursue peace talks with militants threatening his country, has insisted the US stop the drone strikes, saying they violate Pakistan's sovereignty and are counterproductive because they stoke anti-American sentiment in the nation of 180 million.

Many Pakistanis believe the drone strikes kill large numbers of innocent civilians.

The US insists the CIA-run strikes primarily kill al-Qaida and other militants who threaten the West as well as efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.

In a recent speech, President Barack Obama pledged more transparency and restrictions on the highly secretive program, but it appears that for the time being, Pakistan will remain an exception to such plans.