US in no mood to tender apology

ISLAMABAD - Washington is showing cold response to Islamabads efforts seeking an apology from the US over the last weeks drone attack targeting a tribal peace congregation in North Waziristan Agency that had left at least 41 innocent people killed. Well-placed sources informed The Nation on Monday neither the US ambassador to Pakistan Camron Munter had honoured his pledge to leave for Washington to deliver Islamabads note of protest, nor does the State Department seem prepared to tender apology. This has been after Ambassador Munters summoned meeting with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir held in the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua had on record informed this scribe that the US envoy was to leave Pakistan for Washington on Saturday last despite the US Embassys claim that the ambassador was in Pakistan. The powerful US ambassador has not yet left Pakistan, which further gave credence to the doubts that US is adamant to tender apology over the issue. The Foreign Office spokesperson had no explanation when asked about the prospect of US seeking apology, except saying: We have made a strong demarche. Our concerns have been clearly and strongly conveyed. We shall continue to raise this matter with the US. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Pakistan has no plans to say a word over this crucial issue when he addresses the joint sitting of the Parliament today. Sources still hoped that the President may include the issue ahead of his address, but so far his speech does not include any reference to the drone strikes in a glaring breach of Paks sovereignty and independence.

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