ISLAMABAD (AFP) — Pakistan said Thursday the United States was violating international law by launching missile attacks on its northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
A series of recent strikes against suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in Pakistan's tribal areas -- all blamed on unmanned CIA drones -- have raised tensions between Washington and Islamabad.
"The attacks are in violation of international law and in violation of all understandings between the two sides," foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq told a press briefing in Islamabad.
"Statements made by Pakistani leadership as well as rules of engagement are very clear," he said, adding that the discussions the two countries had on rules of engagement were also "very clear."
"The government of Pakistan is committed to do whatever is possible to stop these attacks. We are working on several levels to address the issue".
Pakistan is waiting to see how US president-elect Barack Obama will tackle militancy in Pakistan and Afghanistan once he takes office in January.
The Democrat senator from Illinois has said he favours continuing the strikes and increasing the number of US troops to crush an insurgency by Taliban and other militants in Afghanistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari warned the new US commander for Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, last week that the attacks were "counterproductive" and could harm the battle for hearts and minds here.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the country's military top brass also told the general that the United States should respect Pakistani sovereignty and territorial integrity.
US and NATO officials say that the rugged tribal regions have become safe havens for militants linked to Taliban and Al-Qaeda who fled the US action against former Taliban regime in Afghanistan in late 2001.
Pakistan rejects accusations that it is not doing enough to tackle the extremist threat within its own borders.
It has on previous occasions called Washington's ambassador to Islamabad, Anne Patterson, in to the foreign ministry to hear its dissatisfaction.
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