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Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif urges end to US drone strikes
Source: BBC
Pakistan's new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for an end to US drone strikes in his first address since being re-elected to the post.
"We respect the sovereignty of others and they should respect our sovereignty and independence. This campaign must come to an end," he told MPs.
Mr Sharif, who was ousted in a 1999 coup, was later in the day sworn in for an unprecedented third term as PM.
He faces numerous challenges, including Taliban attacks and a crippled economy.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22779669
Analysis (from the link above)
M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Islamabad
In his maiden speech to parliament, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chose his words and subjects carefully.
He did restate his election promise to stop US drone strikes in Pakistan, but made it clear that Pakistan needed to address the concerns that led to them.
Mr Sharif skipped any mention of his oft-repeated plan to hold talks with Taliban militants, or the normalisation of relations with India.
The prime minister is treading a fine line. The army has been shaping policies about militancy and India, and Mr Sharif feels he will need wider support across the political spectrum to handle these problems.
He must also deal with severe electricity shortages, a sinking economy and rampant corruption.
Such major challenges prompted Mr Sharif to make a strong appeal to all political groups and "other stake-holders" - which many assume means the military - to sit together and hammer out a joint strategy to resolve them.
M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Islamabad
In his maiden speech to parliament, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chose his words and subjects carefully.
He did restate his election promise to stop US drone strikes in Pakistan, but made it clear that Pakistan needed to address the concerns that led to them.
Mr Sharif skipped any mention of his oft-repeated plan to hold talks with Taliban militants, or the normalisation of relations with India.
The prime minister is treading a fine line. The army has been shaping policies about militancy and India, and Mr Sharif feels he will need wider support across the political spectrum to handle these problems.
He must also deal with severe electricity shortages, a sinking economy and rampant corruption.
Such major challenges prompted Mr Sharif to make a strong appeal to all political groups and "other stake-holders" - which many assume means the military - to sit together and hammer out a joint strategy to resolve them.
