Pakistan urges Obama to halt missile attacks

[cali]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan urged President Barack Obama to halt U.S. missile strikes on al-Qaida strongholds near the Afghan border, saying Saturday that civilians were killed the previous day in the first attacks since Obama's inauguration.

Pakistani security officials said eight suspected foreign militants, including an Egyptian al-Qaida operative, were among 22 people killed in Friday's twin strikes in the Waziristan region.

But the Foreign Ministry said that the attacks by unmanned aircraft also killed an unspecified number of civilians and that it had informed U.S. officials of its "great concern."

"With the advent of the new U.S. administration, it is Pakistan's sincere hope that the United States will review its policy and adopt a more holistic and integrated approach toward dealing with the issue of terrorism and extremism," a ministry statement said.

"We maintain that these attacks are counterproductive and should be discontinued," it said.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090124/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan;_ylt=AmerJrquM3JvAmPiPJ_HAMdvaA8F

[tekisui]

1. I hope these strikes are a 'strong message' precursor to the

serious diplomacy from Holbrooke and Clinton. Just to set the stage that we mead business. Hopefully, from here it will be used as leverage in negotiations rather than a long term policy.

[cali]

2. I hope that's it, too

Hard for diplomacy to succeed if we keep bombing that region over the objections of the Pakistani Gov't.

[Fireweed247]

3. What the hell Obama!

:mad:

Channeling Dr King- please contact Obama- Thanks!