Army chief concerned over US violation of Pak sovereignty

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif in a meeting with the United States Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale has expressed serious concerns over the US drone strike in Balochistan which killed Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour.

The US drone strike was the first-ever in the province which has long been a 'red line' for Islamabad.

The army chief in a meeting yesterday said the drone attack, which was a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, was detrimental to Pak-US ties and regional stability and damaged peace efforts, the Dawn quoted an Inter-Services Public Relations statement, as saying.

He said that Islamabad's efforts, successes and sacrifices in fight against terrorism were unparalleled.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also criticised the US drone strike, describing it as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has officially lodged a strong protest with the United States over the attack.