Pakistani PM: Obama using drone strikes for political gains [presstv.ir]
June 12, 2012 Leave a comment
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that U.S. President Barack Obama is using drone strikes in Pakistan tribal regions for political motives.
Gilani’s statement came a day after U.S. President Barack Obama reportedly ordered a “sharp increase” in drone strikes in Pakistan ‘s tribal areas in recent months.
“The United States is into the election year and (President) Obama’s decision has been aimed at gaining political mileage,” Gilani said when a reporter asked him at his press conference in the eastern city of Lahore.
The U.S. officials were quoted as saying that Obama’s decision to increase drone attacks reflected the “mounting U.S. frustration with Pakistan over a growing list of disputes”.
On Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated in Kabul that the United States was running out of patience with Pakistan. He alleged that the country was being used as a safe haven by insurgents from neighboring Afghanistan. A day earlier he had stated in New Delhi that the United States will continue drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
Pakistan, on Saturday, rejected Panetta’s statements and said that he was “oversimplifying some of the very complex issues we are dealing with in our efforts against extremism and terrorism”. Xinhua
