Pakistan Envoy Urges US To End Drone Attacks

Islamabad May 19, IRNA – Pakistan’s outgoing ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman has asked Washington to end drone strikes in the tribal areas, local media reported on Saturday. In a farewell speech to a gathering of senior American officials and Pakistani-Americans, Ms. Rehman who resigned from her post this week after May 11 election, also called for using trade as the engine for enhanced bilateral partnership. The ambassador said during her assignment she was guided by the belief that Pakistan and the US should have sustained relations on the basis of mutual respect. Commenting on the contentious issue of US drone strikes, she noted that this kind of footprint roils anti-American discontent and fuels. “This is one thing that has to change if we are ever to be sanguine that we are on the path to an upward bilateral trajectory,” she added. She said terrorism is very much Pakistan’s problem too and the people of her country have been bravely fighting it as proved by the May 11 election. The ambassador praised the team of Pakistani diplomats for their dedicated work in helping the two countries navigate some very turbulent waters and onerous challenges in the relationship./end