Pakistan reaches out to Saudis, Turkey against drones * Islamabad wants Riyadh, Ankara to convince US against drones By Tanveer Ahmed ISLAMABAD: Annoyed over US drone strikes, the Pakistan Muslim League’s (PML-N) government has approached Saudi Arabia and Turkey to help it by convincing Washington to end these attacks, Daily Times learnt on Tuesday. According to reliable sources, the government is furious over the recent drone strike in tribal areas in which Tehreek-e-Talban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mahsood was killed. The incident has put dialogue process with the Pakistani Taliban in jeopardy. TTP has unleashed an armed struggle against Pakistan for its alliance with the US. Drone strikes have badly damaged the credibility of government that denounced such attacks and pledged to end them during its election campaign. Sources said the PML-N is employing diplomatic channels and has found Saudi Arabia and Turkey “the most appropriate countries” to plead its case before the international community as well as US. Approaching Turkey, sources pointed out, is meant for lobbying in European Union (EU) where it has considerable influence and Pakistan wants that the US is convinced at EU platform that these strikes are counterproductive and even tarnishing the image of Washington. Saudi Arabia has cordial terms with the US and Pakistan being very close to Saudi Arabia wants this country to convince the US against such strikes, sources added. The PML-N government is also compelled to do something practical in the wake of strong domestic pressure where it is facing tough time at the hands of various political parties, particularly Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The PTI has already announced to block NATO supplies by November 20 if drone attacks continued. However, PML-N-led central government is avoiding taking such a harsh course with the US. The diplomatic lobbying, particularly help from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, has been sought in this very context that the US should be convinced diplomatically that drones are not helping in any way in the war on terror; dailytimes
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 04:15:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015