Pak envoy to UN urges end of drone strikes in country to protect civilians

Pakistan's envoy to the United Nations Masood Khan has called for an end to drone strikes in his country to protect civilians.

Masood has backed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon statement of restricting the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) under the international humanitarian law, the Daily Times reports.

The move to seek a legal clarification on the use of drones was made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, during a meeting of the Security Council in New York on Monday.

Khan also said that despite established norms on the use of modern weapons, there were obstacles to humanitarian access and accountability was often non-existent.

Special measures should be taken to support vulnerable groups, such as women, children, refugees and internally displaced persons, he added.