Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said the US drone attack that claimed the life of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud has dealt a "severe blow" to peace efforts.
Stressing that his government will not allow anyone to derail the peace process, Sharif hoped it could be brought back on track.
Without naming the US, Sharif, who today chaired a special cabinet meeting this evening, said if the peace process cannot be supported "then at least should not be harmed".
"The continuity of deplorable and condemnable drone attacks show that Pakistan's point of view about lasting peace and ending terrorism has not been properly understood. We should be allowed to solve our problems according to our own strategy," he was quoted as saying in a press statement.
He made the remarks during the beginning of the cabinet meet which is still ongoing.
Sharif recalled he had recently said a few days ago that peace talks have started and the ice is melting.
"Two way communication had started. In these circumstances, the drone attack has dealt severe blow to negotiations and government's peace efforts. But we hope to put the derailed peace process back on track," he said.
He said that instead of washing blood with blood, the government had started a peace process.
He underlined that the government, military and all political parties want to resolve the issue of terrorism through dialogue.
"Pakistan is an independent and sovereign state. We are free to make decisions," he said.
