The Pakistani government on Friday reiterated its principled stance on drone attacks by the US forces on its soil, with a Foreign Office spokesman saying drone strikes violated Pakistan’s national sovereignty and were counter-productive due to collateral damage.
The statement came in the backdrop of US counterterrorism strategy outlined by President Barrack Obama on Thursday.
“On the use of drone strikes, the government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that the drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives, have human rights and humanitarian implications and violate the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law,” said a statement issued in a rejoinder to the US president’s counterterrorism strategy.
However, Pakistan appreciated President Obama’s acknowledgement that “force alone cannot make the US safer”.
This has been a long lasting stance adopted by the Pakistan Army who has time and again called for start of negotiations with the Taliban involved in the war against the NATO forces.
“This also has been Pakistan’s longstanding stance that a comprehensive strategy is required to address the root causes that foster terrorism and extremism,” the statement added.
It said as a frontline state in the fight against terrorism, Pakistani troops had borne the brunt and given the ultimate sacrifice for it.
“We appreciate President Obama’s acknowledgement and recognition of the sacrifices made by Pakistan particularly by our law enforcement authorities,” the statement stated, adding, “We welcome the resolve expressed by President Obama to continue efforts to rebuilding the important bilateral relationship, which we believe should be based on mutual respect and benefit,” the Foreign Office statement concluded.
However, eminent defence analyst Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi termed the FO statement “vague”, adding that the new Pakistani government should take up the drone issue with the US government.
“Pakistan should not only take up the drones issue with the US but it should also take into account the fact that why Pakistan does not have much international support over this issue,” he said.
He said President Obama had hinted at a fact that the US administration was going to scale down the drone attacks, but was not going to give it up. “The US is not going to give a categorical guarantee to Pakistan that they will abandon drone operations in totality. However, they agree to reduced attacks”.
Calling drone strikes part of the psychological warfare, Rizvi said they wanted to keep fear in the minds of militants and “they will keep the sword hanging over the Taliban especially on al Qaeda-related groups”.
He said President Obama was talking to his own audience in the US as there were human rights activists who opposed drone strikes.
“There are left wing and human rights activists who are opposing drones. The second opposition came from within the US when four US citizens were killed. This triggered a debate within the US as to how could you illegally kill your own citizens with drones. Pakistan factor also contributed. So they have decided to continue with the drones policy but they will use it selectively,” he added.
Askari said one thing was sure that the frequency of drone attacks was going to be reduced.
“But the US says, why does Pakistan not take control of its territory so that there is no need to use drones. The US has never given up the option of talks with the militants. By reducing drone attacks, the US administration was addressing the sentiments of Pakistan and Arab population who oppose drone attacks,” he said.
The USA will respond this way…… a couple of drone strikes to show us the finger.
The government should be clear, no drones attacks allowed on our people. If it takes the path of the previous government then it will also suffer the same fate and much sooner.
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