Respect Pakistan's sovereignty but will target terrorists: US

The US said, it respects Pakistan's sovereignty but will carry out strikes to eliminate terrorists who are targeting its forces. State Department Deputy Spokesman, Mark Toner said this in Washington as Islamabad expressed concern over the recent drone strike by American forces on its territory which killed Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour. 

The Taliban chief was killed in the US drone strike on his vehicle in the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan. Pentagon had already



clarified that this was a defensive strike and asserted that the drone strike has not strained ties with Pakistan. 

Pakistan yesterday summoned US ambassador David Hale to express concern over the drone strike. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi pointed out to the US envoy that the drone strike was a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and a breach of the UN's Charter that guarantees the inviolability of the territorial integrity of its member states.