国际英语新闻:Pakistan condemns U.S. drone strike

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan had strongly condemned the U.S. drone strike that killed four people in the country's North Waziristan tribal region on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said.

An American spy aircraft fired missiles into Mir Ali area of North Waziristan and killed at least four people, official sources in the region said.

The drone fired two missiles on a house in Mir Ali area, destroying the building, tribesmen said.

"These unilateral strikes are a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

It said Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of bringing an immediate end to drone strikes.

"The government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications. "

The Foreign Ministry said the U.S. such strikes also set dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations.

"These drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region," the statement said.

The attack came a day after Pakistan announced to formally lodge its protest on U.S. drone attacks in the UN General Assembly session next month.

Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said in the National Assembly on Friday that the U.S. attacks violate Pakistan's sovereignty and international laws.

"A breakthrough is expected on the issue of U.S. drone strikes in the coming months," he said, without elaborating.

The United States routinely fires missiles into Waziristan tribal region to target militants who are accused of crossing into Afghanistan for attacks on foreign and Afghan forces.

Aziz said that Pakistani leaders in their forthcoming meetings with U.S. authorities will ask them to stop drone strikes as they are counterproductive.

He added that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has supported Pakistan's stance on the issue and he reiterated his stance during his visit this month.