UN concerned over US military strikes in Pakistan

"The secretary general is concerned," Ban's spokeswoman Michele Montas said during a news briefing at the UN headquarters on Friday. She was referring to indiscriminate attacks by US Predator drones usually armed with Hellfire missiles which have killed dozens of Pakistanis including civilians in recent months.

Montas added that the UN attention was drawn to the Wednesday's strike deep inside Pakistani territory. The missile attack on Bannu district by pilotless US aircraft raised eyebrows as they were deeper inside the country and outside the usual tribal border regions.

Earlier, Ban had urged the US to avoid incursions into Pakistani territories, emphasizing respect for the country's sovereignty.

Also, Pakistan Foreign Ministry has raised the issue of cross-border attacks with top US officials and has twice summoned the US envoy to the Foreign Office. Islamabad's top officials now say they may lodge protest with the United Nations over the incursions.