UN General Assembly
2013

been denied the opportunity to grow fully. That must change now. I have tried to forge national consensus on a cohesive policy to eliminate terrorism from our soil. For that purpose, I convened an all-parties conference that spoke out unanimously against terrorism. We are resolved to oppose the forces of terrorism with every means at our disposal. At the same time, we have offered dialogue to end violence, wean young extremists off extremism and integrate all segments of our society into the national mainstream. Winning young people’s hearts and minds is as important as using guns to deter terrorism. But dialogue should not be seen as a sign of weakness or a tool of appeasement. The war against terrorism must be waged within the framework of international law. The use of armed drones in the border areas of Pakistan is a continued violation of our territorial integrity. It results in innocent civilian casualties and is detrimental to our resolve and efforts to eliminate extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. I have urged the United States to cease those strikes so