US to continue drone strikes in Pak despite objections

Washington, Feb 23(ANI): The US has said that it would resume its drone strikes despite mounting objections from Islamabad.

Sources told the Express Tribune that US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Pakistani officials shortly before the eight-week lull in the drone program that strikes could resume.

The US has stopped drone strikes temporarily after escalating tensions in its ties with the Pakistan following the November 26 raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Former US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Obama administration is not reluctant about continuing with the drone strikes.

Washington is unlikely to give Pakistan advance notice about the drone strikes, taking into account the trust deficit that exists between both sides over what American officials describe as a track record of intelligence leaks in Pakistan that allow militants to escape before planned attacks are launched.

However, drone operators might still use information from Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence to locate targets.

Drone strikes have become central to US President Barack Obama's counter-terrorism strategy in Pakistan, as the latter has failed to persuade Pakistan to take strict action against militants.

Several American officials complain that messages from Pakistan's top leadership have been and continue to be inconsistent.

The White House and US the State Department did not comment on the issue. (ANI)