Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with the United States over yesterday (Thursday)’s drone attacks in North Waziristan telling Washington that such strikes were not only unacceptable but also constituted a flagrant violation of humanitarian norms and laws.In pursuance of the directive of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza gilani,
US Ambassador Cameron Munter was summoned to the Foreign Office by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashmir to lodge a strong protest over attacks that caused many casualties.The US Ambassador was told that it was evident that the fundamentals of our relations need to be revisited. Pakistan should not be taken for grant nor treated as a client state.He was also told that it was for the White House and the State Department to hold back those who have been trying to veer Pakistan-US relationship away from the track.Ambassador Munter was also conveyed that under the current circumstances, Pakistan would not be able to participate in the Trilateral meeting between Afghanistan-Pakistan-US, proposed by the US in Brussels on 26th of this month. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar was initially expected to participate in the meeting.The US Ambassador said that he understood clearly that this was not a proforma demarche. He will rush to Washington to convey Pakistan’s message to the US Administration at the highest levels.