"The government of Pakistan and its security forces shall ensure that in future such drone strikes are not conducted and carried out within the sovereign territory of Pakistan," said a two-judge panel led by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan.
The judges said the United States committed a "serial killing" of civilians in the North and South Waziristan tribal districts that began in 2008. They cited local administration as saying 1,449 civilians had been killed and 335 critically injured through the end of 2012.
Khan said that the assassination drone attacks were "absolutely illegal and blatant violations" of Pakistan’s national sovereignty.
The court also declared the drone strikes "a war crime" and directed the Pakistani government to request the United Nations to investigate and render a final verdict on the matter.
Pakistan has repeatedly condemned the drone campaign in its territory, describing it as illegal and counterproductive to the country's own fight against militants.