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Pakistan summons US envoy over drone strikes | Pakistan summons US envoy over drone strikes |
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Pakistan's foreign ministry has summoned a senior US diplomat to lodge a formal protest over a series of drone strikes in its volatile tribal regions. | Pakistan's foreign ministry has summoned a senior US diplomat to lodge a formal protest over a series of drone strikes in its volatile tribal regions. |
There have been eight drone attacks in Pakistan's north-western tribal territory over the past two weeks. | There have been eight drone attacks in Pakistan's north-western tribal territory over the past two weeks. |
US officials say a strike on Monday targeted al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Abu Yahya al-Libi, but it is unclear if he was among 15 killed in the assault. | US officials say a strike on Monday targeted al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Abu Yahya al-Libi, but it is unclear if he was among 15 killed in the assault. |
Pakistan's call for an end to strikes comes amid a rift with Washington. | Pakistan's call for an end to strikes comes amid a rift with Washington. |
US President Barack Obama personally approves every single drone strike against suspected terrorists, so he can take full moral responsibility for the deaths these cause. | |
That is the main thrust of a long, detailed and fascinating piece in the New York Times. | |
It comes as experts have been telling me that the president is wrong to see drones as a "silver bullet" that solves some critical problems about the morality and efficacy of America's use of military power. | |
Tension between the reluctant allies has been intensified by a dispute over Pakistan's closure of supply routes to Nato troops in Afghanistan, after a Nato air strike along the Afghan border killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. | Tension between the reluctant allies has been intensified by a dispute over Pakistan's closure of supply routes to Nato troops in Afghanistan, after a Nato air strike along the Afghan border killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. |
Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned Washington's deputy ambassador to Islamabad, Richard Hoagland, to "officially convey the government's serious concern regarding drone attacks in Pakistani territory". | Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned Washington's deputy ambassador to Islamabad, Richard Hoagland, to "officially convey the government's serious concern regarding drone attacks in Pakistani territory". |
A statement repeated the stance that drone strikes were "unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty". | A statement repeated the stance that drone strikes were "unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty". |
It added that drone strikes represented a "clear red line for Pakistan". | It added that drone strikes represented a "clear red line for Pakistan". |
Many observers believe the attacks have been a means of applying pressure on Islamabad after a deal to reopen Nato supply routes fell through. | Many observers believe the attacks have been a means of applying pressure on Islamabad after a deal to reopen Nato supply routes fell through. |
'Major blow' | 'Major blow' |
Monday's strike targeted a suspected militant compound in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border. | Monday's strike targeted a suspected militant compound in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border. |
Two missiles by the unmanned aircraft killed 15 people, Pakistani officials say. | Two missiles by the unmanned aircraft killed 15 people, Pakistani officials say. |
A senior US official told the BBC that Libi was the target of the attack in Hesokhel, to the east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan. | A senior US official told the BBC that Libi was the target of the attack in Hesokhel, to the east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan. |
The first missile struck the compound, killing three militants, Pakistani security officials said. | The first missile struck the compound, killing three militants, Pakistani security officials said. |
A second missile then killed 12 more militants who had arrived at the scene, they added. | A second missile then killed 12 more militants who had arrived at the scene, they added. |
If Libi's death is confirmed, it would be a "major blow to core of al-Qaeda", the US official told the BBC. | If Libi's death is confirmed, it would be a "major blow to core of al-Qaeda", the US official told the BBC. |
Washington believes that following Osama Bin Laden's death last year, Libi, an Islamic scholar from Libya, became al-Qaeda's second-in-command after Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahiri. | Washington believes that following Osama Bin Laden's death last year, Libi, an Islamic scholar from Libya, became al-Qaeda's second-in-command after Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahiri. |
Libi is reportedly in charge of day-to-day operations in Pakistan's tribal areas. | Libi is reportedly in charge of day-to-day operations in Pakistan's tribal areas. |
He was reported killed in a drone strike in Pakistan in 2009, but it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. | He was reported killed in a drone strike in Pakistan in 2009, but it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. |
Civilian casualties | Civilian casualties |
Pakistan's frontier tribal region is considered a hub of activity by al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. | Pakistan's frontier tribal region is considered a hub of activity by al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. |
This was the eighth and deadliest attack since 23 March, marking a considerable upsurge in the use of the controversial US drone programme, reports the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad. | This was the eighth and deadliest attack since 23 March, marking a considerable upsurge in the use of the controversial US drone programme, reports the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad. |
Pakistan says the drone attacks fuel anti-US sentiment and claim civilian casualties along with militants. The US insists the strikes are effective. | Pakistan says the drone attacks fuel anti-US sentiment and claim civilian casualties along with militants. The US insists the strikes are effective. |
Washington does not normally comment on individual drone operations, which have killed hundreds of people in recent years. | Washington does not normally comment on individual drone operations, which have killed hundreds of people in recent years. |
The dead include senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, as well as an unknown number of other militants and civilians. | The dead include senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, as well as an unknown number of other militants and civilians. |
The frequency of the attacks has increased since President Barack Obama took office in 2008. | The frequency of the attacks has increased since President Barack Obama took office in 2008. |
More than 100 raids were reported in the area in 2010, and more than 60 took place last year. | More than 100 raids were reported in the area in 2010, and more than 60 took place last year. |
But this strike comes days after more details of the Obama administration's drone policy emerged in the US. | But this strike comes days after more details of the Obama administration's drone policy emerged in the US. |
Administration officials told the New York Times that Mr Obama and top security officials regularly consult on adding militants to a drone "kill list" - and said the US president personally approves or vetoes each strike. | Administration officials told the New York Times that Mr Obama and top security officials regularly consult on adding militants to a drone "kill list" - and said the US president personally approves or vetoes each strike. |