U.S DRONE ATTACKS AND AMERICA, S RECENT THREATS TO PAKISTAN

Jamshed Ahmed Khan September 23, 2011

U.S DRONE ATTACKS AND AMERICA, S RECENT THREATS TO PAKISTAN

Jamshed Ahmed Khan

United States and its allies have consistently been attacks against Taliban and Al Qaeda in the Pakistan tribal areas along with Afghan border, U.S and its ally’s uses drones as decisive weapons. The 1^st drone attack happened on 18 June 2004 at Wazirsitan “WANA”. 5 people including Nek Mohammad wazir were killed in that strike, Nek Mohammad wazir was a tribal military leader. At the time of his death he was accused of having provided a safe haven for Taliban and al Qaeda fighters.

After the 1^st drone strike U.S increases their strikes with passage of time against the suspected militants of Al Qaeda and Thereek Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Though its (drone strikes) works with successive result for the U.S, but on the other hand its (drone strikes) strengthened the anti American thoughts and believes in Pakistani people especially in FATA and KPK.2010 was the year in which U.S attacked the biggest numbers of drone air strikes, this year the number of attacks were 118, nearly 1000 people were killed and thousands of people were injured in those strikes. The continuity of U.S drones are on the way in current year 2011, this year the drone hits different parts of Pakistani tribal areas for nearly 60 times, during this years attacks more 450 people killed and more then thousand have been injured. According to short history of drones in Pakistani tribal areas, 2005 two attacks with killing of 7 suspected militants. 2006 two attacks and more than 20 killings. 2007 four strikes and 77 killed. 2008 was the years in which such attacks raised allot for the 1^st time, total of attacks in 2008 were 33 and during those attacks more than 300 people have been killed. In 2009 the total numbers of attacks were 53 and during those attacks nearly 750 people were killed.

In all over Pakistan there are different opinions about the U.S drone strikes, majority of the people in Pakistan are completely against these attacks, over all perception in Pakistan about such strikes "Drone strikes cause collateral damage. A few militants are killed, but the majority of victims are innocent citizens," The most political parties especially Imran khan’s- tehreek-e-insaf, including civil society activists are also against such attacks by U.S, they says that such attacks are on the sovereignty of Pakistan. It is to be clear that Imran khan is the 1^st ever political leader who is continuously working against drone strikes. But on the other hand the Pakistani officials and authorities are having dual philosophy, in front of the people they strongly condemn and criticize these attacks but in reality they are in the favor of drone strikes. According to secret cables leaked by Wikileaks Pakistan's Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani not only tacitly agreed to the drone flights but in 2008 requested Americans to increase them. And the statement about drone attacks of president zaradari is also on the record in which he said that they don’t care about the collateral damages.

Though Pakistan and U.S are the most important allies of the on going so called war on terror, but this it is clear that both of them are not trusting on each others, they have so many ifs and buts for each others. According to recent news U.S stated clearly to Pakistan authorities to takes actions against the Taliban who are attacking U.S and NATO in Afghanistan. And the U.S blaming Pakistan secret agency ISI for the support of HAQANI network Taliban. U.S clearly threatening Pakistan to takes actions against the HAQANI network otherwise U.S is ready to launch offense on Pakistani soil, no doubt if U.S attacks Pakistan it will make more trouble for them and it will strengthen anti American thoughts and believes in Pakistan.