US missile attacks on Pakistani soil regrettable,says Nawaz Sharif

The Pakistani government will lose public support if the US missile attacks on Pakistani soil continued, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday.

In a statement, the PML-N chief said the government should initiate strategic dialogue with the United States instead of just protesting over the continued violations of the country’s territory by the US.

Nawaz said the missile attacks were a challenge for the survival and sovereignty of the country. He said the Bush administration must realize that the war against terrorism could never be won without the support of the people of the region, adding American strikes inside Pakistani territory were eroding public support for the cause.

He warned that there might be a civil war-like situation if the US did not comprehend the developing situation and problems faced by the peace-loving citizens of Pakistan.

When the world’s thinkers believe that there is no solution to the problems faced by the world community except negotiations and pursuing the laws of co-existence, why it is not being implemented in case of Pakistan and Afghanistan to restore peace, Nawaz asked.

The PML-N chief urged the world community to evolve a strategy that would make people feel secure.

He said that two weeks had elapsed since a joint in-camera session of parliament passed a consensus resolution on security but the government had neither formed a committee nor announced any development package for the Tribal Areas as per the demand of the resolution.

Nawaz said that since the resolution was adopted, the US had carried out 20 more air strikes in Pakistani soil, causing the loss of life and property in the Tribal Areas.