ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: The Senate was informed on Wednesday that the government had not been informed by the United States about its decision to continue drone attacks in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Speaking on a point of order raised by Professor Khursheed Ahmed, Leader of the House Mian Raza Rabbani rejected the claim of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates that a message had been conveyed to Islamabad about Washington’s decision to continue the attacks inside Pakistani territory.

“Till the very moment no written communication of this nature has been received by the Pakistan government from the US administration,” he added.

He said that what Mr Gates had said about the US plan was a unilateral decision which was not binding on Pakistan. If any operation was required it would be carried out by Pakistani security forces, he added.

Mr Rabbani said Pakistan being a sovereign state would not tolerate any aerial or territorial attack and the government was well aware of people’s sentiments. Sons of the soil, he added, would lay down their lives to defend the country if a need arose.

He said the PPP-led government had launched a diplomatic offensive to get the drone attacks stopped.

He said the Parliamentary Committee on National Security would also firm up its recommendations on possible options to deal with the situation if the attacks were not halted.

Professor Khursheed said it was no more a question of understanding when it had been declared by the US that the drone attacks would continue. He said the government should be prepared to take retaliatory action against any future air violation.