“Pakistan has demanded an apology and explanation from the United States over a drone strike in a tribal region, which officials said killed 35 people,” ABC.net.au said on March 18.
It said it was the seventh US drone strike in nine days. The article said it was the most lethal drone strike North Waziristan region since the US military escalated its bombing of Pakistani areas near the Afghan border in 2008.
A Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said: “The government of Pakistan strongly condemns the drone strike which has resulted in a large number of casualties …
“This is not only unacceptable but also a flagrant violation of all humanitarian rules and norms.”
Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani said: “It is highly regrettable that a jirga [tribal assembly] of peaceful citizens, including elders of the area, was carelessly and callously targeted with complete disregard to human life.”