Drone Attacks is an Irritant in Pak-US Relations

Abdur Raziq January 25, 2009

The number of dead in Friday's US drone attack on Meer Ali area of North Waziristan has gone up to 21. Five foreign militants were reportedly killed in the attack while rest of the killed were locals of Waziristan. According to news reports published in Pakistani news papers, President Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with Madam Anne Patterson US ambassador in Pakistan on Saturday and had categorically told her that such attacks will be counter productive in war on terror and US shall abstain from launching drone attacks on Pakistani soil.

At many occasions Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Yousuf Raza Gailani had expressed hope that with the installation of President Mr. Barak Obama in power, drone attacks would end. Around 30 US drone attacks were witnessed during Bush era. Friday drone attack was the first during Obama administration period.

According to news report of VOA Urdu service, Pakistan foreign office has welcomed the decision of President Barak Obama regarding the closing of GITMO Prison within a year. Pakistan has only its six nationals as prisoners in GITMO. Pakistan foreign office has termed the decision of President Obama as his moral victory in war against terror.

Major General Ather Abbas while participating in a talk show of VOA Urdu news service had said that in Mingora district of Swat Pakistan security forces have extended protection to schools up to March when winter vacations will end. All other schools in Swat troubled area will also get protection of security forces. According to news reports published in Pakistani media, so far 170 schools were damaged by militants in Swat.

In tribal areas of Pakistan US drone attacks are counter productive and create feelings of sympathy for the terrorist organizations in public, when innocent people become victims of drone attacks along with militants, terrorist organizations gain more numerical strength. Members of affected families of innocent victims also join terrorist organizations to avenge the killings of their family members. An analyst in talk show of VOA Urdu service was of the view that if US provides drones and information to Pakistan government, it will launch attacks on militants with more accuracy.

Note: This article was also published at http://raziq1.blogspot.com and at allvoices.com