Pak warns of 'direct standoff' with US if drone strikes continued

The Pakistan government has reportedly conveyed to the US authorities that if the drone strikes continued, it may lead to a 'direct standoff' between US and Pakistan.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that he has conveyed to US Ambassador Richard Olson that the drone attacks were not only violation of country's sovereignty but were also resulting in 'unacceptable' collateral damage, The Nation reports.

Khan said that the direct standoff could also have serious implications on withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and in the post-withdrawal period adding that the US should see whether it can afford such standoff with regard to pre and post withdrawal scenario.

According to the report, Khan has declared July 12 as a proposed date for all parties to finalise a National Security Policy in order to curb terrorism in the country and a final date would be announced after seeking convenience of all such parties.

He said that the agenda of the meeting is to cope with terrorism and formulation of a policy on dialogue with the militants and forming a national policy on US drone strikes.

The report further added Khan saying that the National Security Policy has two parts namely operational and strategic adding that the operational side would define the anti-terrorism policy of the government and the strategic side would explain the policy of the government about either holding dialogue with the militants or use force against them, or adopt both the ways simultaneously.