ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The country's foreign minister Thursday said the U.S. hadn't informed Pakistan before it launched a missile attack from pilotless drones at a suspected militant hideout in Pakistan's border region.The strikes provoked anger in Pakistan and criticism of the government that it was taking too soft a stance on heightened U.S. military action targeting the border region with Afghanistan.
Earlier, Pakistani officials had said the U.S. had informed Pakistan before the strike. After the foreign minister's remarks Thursday, a senior government official reaffirmed that there had been an understanding between the U.S. and Pakistan that the strikes would take place.
"The foreign minister's statement is aimed at calming down the public outcry," this official said. There's growing public anger within Pakistan against what is perceived as the government's military cooperation with the U.S.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the attack had come after a clear commitment by U.S. officials to respect Pakistan's sovereignty. He said the strikes indicated "there is some sort of an institutional disconnect on their side, and if so, they will have to sort it out."
Two U.S. drones carried out four missile attacks in the South Waziristan tribal region Wednesday night, hours after Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, assured Pakistani leaders that the U.S. would respect Pakistan's sovereignty.
A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad couldn't be reached to comment.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Says
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The country's foreign minister Thursday said the U.S. hadn't informed Pakistan before it launched a missile attack from pilotless drones at a suspected militant hideout in Pakistan's border region.The strikes provoked anger in Pakistan and criticism of the government that it was taking too soft a stance on heightened U.S. military action targeting the border region with Afghanistan.
Earlier, Pakistani officials had said the U.S. had informed Pakistan before the strike. After the foreign minister's remarks Thursday, a senior government official reaffirmed that there had been an understanding between the U.S. and Pakistan that the strikes would take place.
"The foreign minister's statement is aimed at calming down the public outcry," this official said. There's growing public anger within Pakistan against what is perceived as the government's military cooperation with the U.S.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the attack had come after a clear commitment by U.S. officials to respect Pakistan's sovereignty. He said the strikes indicated "there is some sort of an institutional disconnect on their side, and if so, they will have to sort it out."
Two U.S. drones carried out four missile attacks in the South Waziristan tribal region Wednesday night, hours after Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, assured Pakistani leaders that the U.S. would respect Pakistan's sovereignty.
A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad couldn't be reached to comment.
