US must review policy to expand drone attacks to Balochistan: Kaira

19 Mar, 2009

Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that US must review its policy to expand drone attacks to Balochistan, as it would be counterproductive to efforts being made for curbing terrorism in the region. Our policy remains unchanged and we believe drone strikes are counter-productive, he told journalists after inaugurating National Polio Control Cell here on Wednesday.
"If there is any drone attack it would certainly be counter-productive. Therefore, we must ask the US that if they have credible and actionable information, they should share it with our intelligence agencies for taking appropriate action," he added. He said that government has been condemning drone attacks from the day one and all diplomatic channels are active to stop these attacks.
US President Barack Hussain Obama and his national security advisers are considering expansion of the covert US war in Pakistan far beyond the tribal belt of NWFP, encompassing Balochistan, the New York Times reported.
Two high-level reports on Pakistan and Afghanistan that have been forwarded to the White House in recent weeks have called for broadening the target area to reach the Taliban and other insurgent groups major sanctuaries in and around the city of Quetta, the newspaper said on its web-site, citing senior administration officials.
Commenting on Indian replies to Pakistans queries on Mumbai terrorist strikes, he said that Interior Ministry and other relevant departments have started the process of scrutiny. "The detailed analysis is underway and once it is completed we would share the results with the Indian government," he added.

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