As the drone hit the area of Miranshah in North Waziristan on 8 December 2009, among the ashes and ruins of the houses, I saw an old man sobbing and remarking with anger and desperation, “They are killing us mercilessly. We are also a part a Pakistan. They assassinated my innocent family. We were not terrorists. I am left alone. What should I live for? I will take revenge. I will kill their families only then they will understand that Justice delayed is justice denied”. Regardless of the consequences and blatantly ignoring public reaction in Pakistan, the Champions of Democracy have intensified missile and drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas. A country like Pakistan where the state authority is already undermined, the intensification of such illegal attacks inside the sovereign boundaries of Pakistan will drastically jolt the political standing of Pakistan in the international world resulting in a political suicide for Pakistan. Not only this, the escalation of drones will further fuel the insurgency / terrorist activities by aligning several militant groups to work together and the democratic system might once again fail in the country, as the people will turn against the government.
Unmanned drones have been carrying out attacks in Pakistan's tribal region on the border with Afghanistan and according to certain American officials as well as military leaders, believe that carrying out Predator aircraft strikes in Pakistan is the most effective way to cut off the Taliban's power structure. However, the Obama administration is failing to understand that passing of such statements as well as expanding the drone strikes into a country with such a large population, or even threatening to do so, could upset Washington's relationship with Islamabad. The Pakistan government tome and again stated that the international community that the extension of such attacks in Balochistan or any other province of Pakistan will blow the established status quo in the province which is accountable for peace and security in the region and will further strengthen the Taliban ingress in the country. Unlike the Baloch belt, Pushtoon belt of Balochistan has never posed any insurgency threat to federation. But as the immediate target of drone attacks on pushtoon belt would be creating unnecessary tension in the country. Moreover, this situation will give impetus to the rapid enhancement of drugs and weapon supply as the law and order situation will be totally out of control.
The drone attacks by America in Pakistan causing huge civilian causalities raise many questions in human mind. Pakistan army has successfully completed its operation in Swat with in a short span of six months and is conducting operation in South Waziristan effectively. During this time frame, many notable leaders of Talibans have been captured and killed namely, baitullah mehsud. While if we look at the efforts of America and allied forces in Afghanistan, no such success has yet been achieved. They have not only failed in capturing Osama Bin Laden but at the same time have failed to secure the government control from the Talibans in nine years. If the western countries have so much of a technology which they are apparently wasting in Pakistan stating that there are terrorist hide outs in Quetta etc, why don’t they utilize this technology in Afghanistan and finally show the world their achievement. It’s about time that America should realize that they have failed in Afghanistan as they failed in Vietnam and this failure has nothing to do with Pakistan. But at the same time Pakistan should warn America and its allies of their premature withdrawal from Afghanistan. If at this stage, Americans are planning to hold negotiations with the 2nd tier Talibans and leaving the country on its own, it will not only cause catastrophic consequences in the region but will also spread the menace of extremism throughout the world.
The above mentioned circumstances will not only adversely affect the economic, political and social structure of Pakistan but will also create hurdles in US-Pakistan relations, Pakistan military’s role in the war on terror and will also raise question regarding the concept of sovereignty. In short, this war has to be won through the public support, and the continuation of drone attacks will obliterate the advantage that a democratically elected government has over a dictatorship, if the former is seen as helpless against US strikes.
Unmanned drones have been carrying out attacks in Pakistan's tribal region on the border with Afghanistan and according to certain American officials as well as military leaders, believe that carrying out Predator aircraft strikes in Pakistan is the most effective way to cut off the Taliban's power structure. However, the Obama administration is failing to understand that passing of such statements as well as expanding the drone strikes into a country with such a large population, or even threatening to do so, could upset Washington's relationship with Islamabad. The Pakistan government tome and again stated that the international community that the extension of such attacks in Balochistan or any other province of Pakistan will blow the established status quo in the province which is accountable for peace and security in the region and will further strengthen the Taliban ingress in the country. Unlike the Baloch belt, Pushtoon belt of Balochistan has never posed any insurgency threat to federation. But as the immediate target of drone attacks on pushtoon belt would be creating unnecessary tension in the country. Moreover, this situation will give impetus to the rapid enhancement of drugs and weapon supply as the law and order situation will be totally out of control.
The drone attacks by America in Pakistan causing huge civilian causalities raise many questions in human mind. Pakistan army has successfully completed its operation in Swat with in a short span of six months and is conducting operation in South Waziristan effectively. During this time frame, many notable leaders of Talibans have been captured and killed namely, baitullah mehsud. While if we look at the efforts of America and allied forces in Afghanistan, no such success has yet been achieved. They have not only failed in capturing Osama Bin Laden but at the same time have failed to secure the government control from the Talibans in nine years. If the western countries have so much of a technology which they are apparently wasting in Pakistan stating that there are terrorist hide outs in Quetta etc, why don’t they utilize this technology in Afghanistan and finally show the world their achievement. It’s about time that America should realize that they have failed in Afghanistan as they failed in Vietnam and this failure has nothing to do with Pakistan. But at the same time Pakistan should warn America and its allies of their premature withdrawal from Afghanistan. If at this stage, Americans are planning to hold negotiations with the 2nd tier Talibans and leaving the country on its own, it will not only cause catastrophic consequences in the region but will also spread the menace of extremism throughout the world.
The above mentioned circumstances will not only adversely affect the economic, political and social structure of Pakistan but will also create hurdles in US-Pakistan relations, Pakistan military’s role in the war on terror and will also raise question regarding the concept of sovereignty. In short, this war has to be won through the public support, and the continuation of drone attacks will obliterate the advantage that a democratically elected government has over a dictatorship, if the former is seen as helpless against US strikes.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
