Sherry terms drones strikes illegal as US justifies operation

Pakistan has reiterated its stand that strikes by U.S. spy aircraft in the country’s tribal regions are violation of international laws, Washington has justified the CIA-controlled operation.

The issue of U.S drone strikes in Pakistan has been a major irritant in bilateral relationship for years and the latest different stance shows the problem remains unresolved.

The White House and Justice Department have again defended the use unmanned drones as ‘legal, ethical and wise’, the notion strongly rejected by Pakistan.

The U.S. argues that the drones target al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives in Pakistan’s Waziristan tribal regions, who are blamed for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan on foreign and Afghan forces.

Pakistan and tribesmen say that the U.S. missiles kill civilians and have also caused psychological problem among the children as spy aircraft daily fly over the tribal regions.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Sherry Rehman, reiterated Islamabad’s position that they are counterproductive, and constitute direct violation of the country’s sovereignty and international laws, and fuel the emergence of new militants.

“There is no question of any quiet complicity in the US drone strikes on Pakistani soil, she responded emphatically, when asked if Pakistan was publicly criticizing the drone operations while privately allowing the US to go ahead with strikes,” state media quoted the ambassador as saying in Washington.

“We have been working together to degrade and destroy al-Qaeda ranks – while we move towards diminishing al-Qaeda ranks in our region, the time for drone strikes is over,” Radio Pakistan quoted her as saying.

Ambassador Rehman said drones, as precision anti-terror tools, may have some efficacy, but Pakistan does not see them as operationally productive the way they are used.

She argued that the use of US drones on Pakistani soil gives the impression that the fight against terrorism is the United States’ fight and not Pakistan’s and that these operations also cast U.S. in negative light.

“We are looking forward to a relationship that is defined by
confidence, trust and mutual respect and investment in each other, as nations not just as states, to grow together.”
She said she looked forward to working with the new Secretary of State John Kerry and other Obama Administration officials on taking the relationship forward.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=37961

Posted by Tahir Khan on Feb 6 2013. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.