WASHINGTON (TIP): The US has disputed a recent report by a prominent human rights group that by using drones it has acted contrary to international law.

The United States “takes extraordinary care” to make sure that its counter terrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable domestic and international law, and that they are consistent with US values and policy, state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.

The state department, she said, has completed the review of the recently released report of London-based Amnesty International on use of drones in Pakistan, which according to it was in violation of international law. The state department also disputed the figures of civilian casualties by the Amnesty report, which Psaki said was on a very higher side.

“To the extent that these reports claim that the US has acted contrary to international law, we would strongly disagree. We have repeatedly emphasised the extraordinary care we take to make sure counter terrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable law,” Psaki said.

“When there are indications that civilian deaths may have occurred, intelligence analysts draw on a large body of information, including human intelligence, signals intelligence, media reports, and surveillance footage to help us make informed determinations about whether civilians were, in fact, killed or injured,” she said. “Substantial information concerning US counterterrorism strikes is collected, obviously, through a variety of methods,” she added.