Pakistan asks US to stop drone strikes on its soil

In the wake of a spate of drone attacks on Pakistan in recent days which led to the killing of Taliban’s chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour, Pakistan has said that the US drone strikes “must stop” on its territory. Asking the US to curb drone attacks in Pakistan, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has said that the attacks must stop at the earliest. Pakistan’s demand comes days after American special forces killed Mansour in a drone attack in the Balochistan province. Briefing the media after attending President Mamnoon Hussain’s address to a joint session of Parliament, Mr Sharif said: “US drone strikes in the Pakistani territory are regrettable and must stop.” Acknowledging Mansour’s death as an “important milestone” and efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan, US President Barack Obama hailed the American forces and said that they would continue to go after threats on the Pakistani soil. “We have removed the leader of an organisation that has continued to plot against and unleash attacks on American and Coalition forces,” Mr Obama said. Stressing on Pakistan’s combat against terror, Mr  Sharif  said that the operation against the militants was going on successfully. “We have to maintain the victories of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Terrorists will not be allowed to re-enter into areas cleared in South Waziristan and North Waziristan,” he added.