UN chief says use of drones subject to long standing rules of intl law

North AmericaUN chief says use of drones subject to long standing rules of...

WASHINGTON: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the use of drone attacks that have resulted in heavy civilian casualties, saying it needs to be subject to the long-standing rules of international law.

In response to a question that use of drones is in violation of sovereignty of Pakistan, Eduardo del Buey, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said on Saturday that “He (Ban) says that like any other weapon, the use of armed UAVs (unarmed aerial vehicles) is subject to long-standing rules of international law, including international humanitarian law in situations of armed conflict,”

   

“He also believes that there is a need for greater confidence in the international community that the use of these weapons is within the bounds of international law,” Buey told reporters.

In a statement issued in Islamabad, following his three-day visit, Emmerson said that as a matter of international law the US drone campaign in Pakistan is being conducted without the consent of the elected representatives of the people, or the legitimate Government of the State.

“It involves the use of force on the territory of another State without its consent and is therefore a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty,” he said.

“Pakistan has also been quite clear that it considers the drone campaign to be counter-productive and to be radicalising a whole new generation, and thereby perpetuating the problem of terrorism in the region,” he added.

The Obama Administration refused to comment on the “sovereignty” question, and said it is withholding its judgment on the UN report on drone attacks inside Pakistan.

“I can tell you that our administration is aware of the report” but “at this point, I don’t have a comment on either intelligence operations or military operations,” the White House Deputy Press Secretary, Josh Earnest told reporters when asked about the UN report and the comment made by its official in Islamabad earlier in the day.

“As you know, this administration is in regular and close contact with Pakistan. We have a solid working relationship with them on a range of issues including a close cooperative security relationship,” he said.

“At this point, we’re going to withhold judgment on the actual report…But we’re in touch with Mr (Ben) Emerson (UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights) and if there are requests of the administration for information, we will carefully consider those requests,” Earnest said.

However, he refused to answer the sovereignty question, so did the State Department spokesperson at her daily news conference.

“We’ve seen his (Emerson) press release. I’m obviously not going to speak about classified information here. What I would say is that we have a strong ongoing counter-terrorism dialogue with Pakistan, and that will continue,” the State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland told reporters.

Must read

Recent News

Judicial Commission to probe IHC judges’ allegations on ISI Operators

0
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The federal government has announced the formation of a Judicial Commission to probe Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges' allegations on ISI Operators...

President stresses need to further strengthen Pak-UK trade & economic ties

0
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan and the United Kingdom enjoy cordial relations, rooted in history and shared legacy, which...

President Zardari for developing Pakistan’s Gems and Jewellery Sector

0
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for focusing on the development of the Gems and Jewellery Sector of the Country, saying that...

PM Shahbaz Sharif visits Naval Headquarters

0
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif along with the Federal Ministers visited the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.Upon arrival, the prime minister was welcomed...

Envoy Albert Khorev proposes export of Halal meat from Pakistan to Russia

0
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev engaged in discussions with the Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, aiming to enhance...
Advertisement