Pak government knew all about scores of civilian killings in US drone strikes in country

A recently revealed classified Pakistani government document states that scores of civilians died during the CIA-led drone strikes in the country's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from 2006-2009 and Pakistani officials were 'aware of those deaths for many years'.

According to the Dawn, the document quoted by quoted by the London Bureau of Investigative Journalism (LBIJ) states for the first time the Pakistani government's evaluation of numerous drone strikes.

The LBIJ said that of 746 people listed as killed in the drone strikes outlined in the document, at least 147 of the dead are clearly stated to be civilian victims and 94 of those are said to be children.

The document contradicts claims by the US that no more than 50 to 60 'non-combatants' were killed during the entire, nine-year-long drone campaign.

The Pakistan government has maintained that drone strikes are 'counter productive' and 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 report added.