Pakistan seeking alternative to 'illegal' drone strikes from U.S.

Islamabad, May 4 (ANI): Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan has said that the country is working with the United States at various levels to resolve all outstanding issues, including an alternative to drone attacks, in a mutually beneficial and acceptable manner.

"We have raised drone attacks issue with the US at various levels. We are trying to resolve this issue on a priority basis. There is a need to resolve all issues with the US," the Daily Times quoted Khan, as saying.

Pakistan has a clear stance on the drone strikes and considers them illegal, a violation of the country's territorial sovereignty and counter-productive, Khan said.

He said Pakistan was currently holding talks with the U.S. in line with recommendations adopted at a joint parliamentary sitting, adding that everything would be decided in the context of these guidelines, including restoration of NATO supplies that were closed after a cross-border NATO air strike.

Khan said the next meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet would review the mechanism to implement parliamentary guidelines to reset ties with the U.S.

Khan, however, did not confirm whether the U.S. had invited Pakistan to the NATO summit in Chicago this month, and said Islamabad had not yet decided on taking part in the meeting. The summit would discuss the withdrawal of foreign troops from the war-torn Afghanistan. (ANI)