<p>Pakistani government Friday reiterated its opposition to US drone strikes on its territory, saying the strikes were "counter-productive" and "entail loss of innocent civilian lives". <br /><br /></p>.<p>The statement came from the Pakistan foreign ministry, hours after US President Barack Obama defended the use of the drone missions as self-defense against militants.<br /><br />Addressing the National Defense University in Washington Thursday, President Obama defended the use of drones and said: "We are at war with an organisation that right now would kill as many Americans as they could if we did not stop them first."<br /><br />Pakistan reiterated its opposition in a statement, saying: "The Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that the drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives, have human rights and humanitarian implications and violate the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law."<br /><br />The ministry's spokesperson, however, appreciated Obama's acknowledgement that "force alone cannot make us safer".<br /><br />"This also has been Pakistan's long-standing stance that a comprehensive strategy was acquired to address the root causes that foster terrorism and extremism," he said.<br /></p>
<p>Pakistani government Friday reiterated its opposition to US drone strikes on its territory, saying the strikes were "counter-productive" and "entail loss of innocent civilian lives". <br /><br /></p>.<p>The statement came from the Pakistan foreign ministry, hours after US President Barack Obama defended the use of the drone missions as self-defense against militants.<br /><br />Addressing the National Defense University in Washington Thursday, President Obama defended the use of drones and said: "We are at war with an organisation that right now would kill as many Americans as they could if we did not stop them first."<br /><br />Pakistan reiterated its opposition in a statement, saying: "The Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that the drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives, have human rights and humanitarian implications and violate the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law."<br /><br />The ministry's spokesperson, however, appreciated Obama's acknowledgement that "force alone cannot make us safer".<br /><br />"This also has been Pakistan's long-standing stance that a comprehensive strategy was acquired to address the root causes that foster terrorism and extremism," he said.<br /></p>