More drones

And more tragedy

The Americans seemed happy enough when Zarb-e-Azb finally got off the ground, but the operation doesn’t seem living up to their expectations. Drone strikes, which were stopped as Islamabad gave the talks one last chance, have resumed, and increased over the last week or so. If they are part of an agreement with Pakistan, which is a possibility considering the silence over the matter, the situation is further complicated. But going by the official narrative, these strikes are still unwelcome. And since they have, once again, hit innocent families, killing dozens, they are going to complicate a very important component of Pakistan’s NW operation – winning over local people.

That situation is bad enough with the IDP’s first swelling out of control and then becoming almost impossible to handle, mostly owing to unpreparedness. And the military might have made significant advances in the agency, but repatriation of IDPs is still far from certain, and no timeline has been given. It is also likely that simply returning to North Waziristan will not spell the end of the refugees’ problems. Much of the place, including the main bazaar, has been levelled, and much rebuilding needs to be done before a sense of normalcy returns. The army, despite its professionalism, has left another important loophole that has begun rubbing people the wrong way. There is still no independent verification of its successes, and so far no significant militants have been reported captured or killed.

At this sensitive point, outside interference is the last thing that Pakistan wants or needs. Should these drone strikes continue and more civilians die, which is the usual course, more discontent will develop, and the operation will become that much more difficult to handle or wind up. The US must be told that such interference is as unwelcome as it is counterproductive. Their efforts are much better spent catering to the mess on the Afghan side, where they are drawing down but some 10 thousand troops will stay as part of the BSA. It would help, for example, if they did a better job of nabbing militants fleeing Zarb-e-Azb into Afghanistan, or targeting the large TTP presence in and around the Kunar/Nuristan area. In the present situation, more drones simply translate into more tragedy for Pakistan. And if the NW operation is complicated, it is bound to affect the insurgency across the Durand Line. The Americans do nobody any favours with their meddling.