Pakistan didn't approve drone strikes, says envoy

Statemnet comes as a reaction to Ben Emmerson's report on human rights and counterterrorism

Pakistan did not approve drone attacks on its territory, Pakistan's envoy to UN Masood Khan said.

"It is not justifiable to launch strikes in the context of non-international armed conflict in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area," the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Masood Khan as saying Friday.

"Let me also state authoritatively that no explicit or implicit consent, approval or acquiescence has been given by the government of Pakistan for the drone strikes," Khan said.

Khan made the comments while speaking on the report of Ben Emmerson, UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism.

Emmerson formally presented his report on the use of armed drones in various parts of the world to the General Assembly's Third (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) Committee Friday.

The Pakistani ambassador said the continued use of drones amount to a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.

"We believe that civilian casualties as a result of drone strikes do violate international humanitarian law, as well as international law and human rights law," Khan said.

"The use of drones violate Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"In the asymmetric terrorist war, the well-established humanitarian principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution must be observed. This is not being done," he added.

Khan called for the immediate cessation of drone strikes on Pakistani territory.

"A signature strike has to be justified under the International Humanitarian Law or the International Human Rights Law to prove that it is a legitimate act of self-defence.

In Pakistan, he said, all drones strikes were a chilling reminder that reprisal strikes by terrorists are around the corner.

"They put all Pakistanis at risk. The psychological impact of the use of drones on the relatives of civilians killed in an inhumane manner incites sentiment, hatred and radicalises more people.

"Drone strikes are therefore counterproductive," the envoy added.