Pakistan says shocked at killing of Western hostages in border region

Pakistan said Friday it is shocked at the killing of two Western hostages kidnapped by al- Qaeda in Pakistan in a U.S. drone strike in the Pak-Afghan border region.

The White House says American Warren Weinstein, held by al- Qaida since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national held by al-Qaida since 2012, were killed in a January operation in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The operation targeted an al-Qaida-associated compound and there was no reason to believe either hostage was present at the location, the White House said Thursday.

"The news of the accidental killing of two western hostages Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto in the U.S. drone strike conducted in January this year has been received in Pakistan with shock and sorrow," the Foreign Ministry said.

U.S. President Barrack Obama took "full responsibility" for the deaths of the hostages and expressed "deepest apologies" to the families of the two hostages in a televised address on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said the deaths of the hostages in a drone strike demonstrate the risk and unintended consequences of the use of this technology that Pakistan has been highlighting for a long time.

Having lost thousands of innocent civilians in the war against terrorism, Pakistan said it can fully understand this tragic loss and stands with the families of Weinstein and Lo Porto in this difficult time.

"The people and the government of Pakistan convey their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said in a statement.

Al-Qaeda Indian sub-continent branch said this week that its 50 members, including two senior commanders, have been killed in the American drone strikes over the past few months. Endi