Pakistan on Wednesday strongly criticized the U.S. missile strikes inside its borders, saying the strikes were "counter-productive" to its efforts to counter terrorism.

"Our policy remains unchanged and we believe drone strikes are counter-productive," foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said.

He made the remarks following a statement of U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates that Washington would "go after Al-Qaeda wherever Al-Qaeda is" and affirming that the new U.S. administration's position had been transmitted to the Pakistani government.

"Both President (George W.) Bush and President (Barack) Obama have made clear we will go after Al-Qaeda wherever Al-Qaeda is, and we will continue to pursue that," Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

But the Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman branded the strikes by drones "counter-productive to our efforts to counter terrorism". He declined to make any further comment.

Suspected U.S. drones Tuesday flew over various areas of North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan, a private TV channel reported. According to the channel, the pilotless aircraft made three to four flights over various parts of the agency, spreading panic among the tribesmen who are already concerned over the growing missile strikes in the Tribal Areas.

Islamabad's hopes of the new U.S. administration stopping the drone strikes were dashed when two missile attacks in Waziristan killed 18 people last Friday in the first strike after U.S. President Barack Obama's inauguration.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2009)