Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday warned the recent US drone strike targeting late Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was detrimental to bilateral relations between the two countries. <br /> <br />The army chief’s reaction came during a meeting with the Ambassador of US David Hale at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, a statement issued by Inter Services Public relations (ISPR) said. <br /> <br />Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansour killed in US drone strike in Pakistan <br /> <br />The statement said the situation arising after the US drone strike in Balochistan on May 22 came under discussion. <br /> <br />While expressing serious concerns over the drone strike, COAS said such acts of sovereignty violations are detrimental to relations between both countries and are counter-productive for ongoing peace process for regional stability. <br /> <br />“Pakistan’s efforts, successes and sacrifices in fight against terrorism have been unparalleled,” General Raheel added. <br /> <br />US forces will continue to go after threats on Pakistani soil: Obama <br /> <br />President Barack Obama on Monday confirmed Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US air strike, hailing his death as an “important milestone” in efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan. <br /> <br />Saturday’s bombing raid, the first known American assault on a top Afghan Taliban leader on Pakistani soil, marked a major blow to the militant movement, which saw a new resurgence under Mansour. <br /> <br />Soon after Obama’s statement, Pakistan summoned the US ambassador to express concern over the drone strike inside its territory, which reportedly killed Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. <br /> <br />Pakistan summons US envoy over drone strike inside territory <br /> <br />Ambassador David Hale was called in by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi wherein the latter pointed out that the drone strike was a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, according to a Foreign Office statement. <br /> <br />The attack is also a breach of the United Nation’s Charter that guarantees the inviolability of the territorial integrity of its member states, he added. <br /> <br />Fatemi emphasised such actions could adversely impact the ongoing efforts by the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) for facilitating peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban.
