Pakistan tells Petraeus to stop missile strikes

Zardari complains to Petraeus that US Predator drones are destroying prcious lives and property in Pakistan. Reuters

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The U.S. commander running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, held talks on Monday with Pakistani leaders who told him to stop U.S. strikes on militants in Pakistani territory.

Petraeus arrived in Pakistan on Sunday, at the beginning of his first foreign tour since taking charge of U.S. Central Command, highlighting U.S. concern about a country seen as crucial to stability in Afghanistan and to defeating al Qaeda.[...]

President Asif Ali Zardari told Petraeus the attacks should stop, Pakistan's state news agency reported.

"Continuing drone attacks on our territory, which result in loss of precious lives and property, are counter-productive and difficult to explain by a democratically elected government," Zardari was quoted as saying.