WASHINGTON: Pakistan lodged a formal protest with the US State Department on Thursday against a US drone attack in North Waziristan that killed at least 40 people.The protest note, submitted by deputy chief of mission Iffat Imran Gardezi, noted that the missiles struck a peaceful meeting of tribal elders.

The decision to submit a formal protest with the US government is a major departure from Pakistan's previous practices.

Since the US administration does not own the drone strikes, in the past Pakistan avoided submitting official notes to them on this issue.—Correspondent