 "Pak military was unaware of US drone strike: Tariq Fatemi")
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi, has said that Pakistani military leadership was 'unaware' of the U.S drone attack in Balochistan, which killed Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Mansour.
He also rejected the possibility of an intelligence failure in this regard.
"Pakistan does not have the technological means to detect drones," Fatemi told Dawn News in an interview.
"There are certain domestic and international elements involved. But some matters cannot be disclosed," he added.
Fatemi was of the opinion that U.S. drone policy would negatively affect the region where they are carried out.
"Pakistan may protest against drone strikes, but cannot strike back decisively... Such attacks will never be permitted in Pakistan," he said.
On being asked why aid is sought from Washington despite its violations of Pakistan's territorial sovereignty, Fatemi replied, "Ideally, it is our goal to not seek any aid from them, but Pakistan's economic conditions make it so. We do not actively seek aid from anyone."
Fatemi asserted that Pakistan is already "in action" against various terrorist groups, including the Taliban and the Haqqani Network.
"We are trying to keep dialogue and negotiations going with the [Afghan] Taliban. Negotiations with the Taliban have reached a rather unique junction. Our agencies will contact the new leadership. Whatever decisions and progress we had made in the QCG (Quardrilateral Coordination Group) is now nil, thanks to the drone strike," he said.
He also stressed that Pakistan alone cannot bring peace to Afghanistan, adding it is a collective international responsibility.