It is one of the worst kept secrets in the world that Pakistan has quietly acquiesced to the American use of drones. But this latest report clearly takes things too far and is sure to lead to further strains in an already beleaguered relationship. US military contractors and trainees have already been told to leave, and the movements of US diplomats have also been curtailed. In retaliation, the US slashed military aid to Pakistan and is reported to be mulling similar restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in America. The two countries are still nominally allies but the alliance is clearly dysfunctional for now.
The task ahead must ensure getting ties back on track. This will require understanding on both sides. The US must realise that its arrogant, go-it-alone attitude will hurt their fight against militancy and will only strengthen the hand of the Taliban and al Qaeda. Pakistan, for its part, must demonstrate that it is not playing a double game and is equally committed to eliminating militants. The rapprochement, if both sides desire it, can only take place if the intelligence agencies of both sides are on board. That, unfortunately, is the sticking point. The CIA wants to kill militants no matter what the cost while the ISI is trying to play both sides to maintain its influence in post-withdrawal Afghanistan. The task is for both to find some kind of common ground.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS (7)
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The drones guided by honest and intelligent markers can certainly prove more effective. But when guided by those with vested interest innocent lives are put at stake.
why all this hue and cry over the drones? the americans are doing us a favour by killing off our enemies free of cost.when will our society stop supporting the religious terrorists?
the drones are a big blessing from allah.they help to eliminate the islamic fascists which our own govt. doesn't have the capability to eliminate.we can't send our army into every inch of the tribal areas so it is good that the americans are cleaning up that area on their own expense and we don't have to risk the lives of our soldiers. the americans should increase the number of drones so all the islamic fanatics can be eliminated.As it is the religioius extremists have penetrated all aspects of our society.
It's very hard to have sympathy for people I know would celebrate my own death. I can't find it in me to really care anymore in regard to how Pakistan feels about US actions. If the US doesn't do it, Pakistan certainly won't. That much is obvious nowadays. You constantly defend and protect people targeting the majority of the people on the planet. I don't care even if the US gets brutal anymore. At least there will finally be an ending. The US will eventually stop dropping bombs. The people you protect will never stop killing people until their little Sharia law and Caliphate are in place world wide. Which, I might add, will never happen. So, the choice of action is obvious. In fact, they're still being way too kind by only using drones. They at least try to be precise while valuing lives. Your friends simply look for the biggest group, strap on a bomb to a kid and tell them to go pick something up from the market. The more dead the better, regardless of what values previously existed in the rubble.
Cry me a river and then go drown in it.
@ ET - please do not join the ranks of Imran Khan in your war against the drones. Our Armed Forces have shown themselves both unwilling and incompetent in taking down the terrorists. Reports show that the people in FATA love the drones because they allow them to get their freedom back from the violent terrorists who make the lives of the locals miserable.
Until the Pakistani Armed Forces can establish the writ of state in FATA, I'm afraid to say that we have no business lecturing the Americans on doing a job that our own military should have the courage to do itself.
Drones are far more effective than military operations because there is less collateral damage, not more. Imagine when an entire artillery division rolls up to the outskirts of a town in FATA and levels half the town - that's much worse.
Yes, the death of innocents is awful but not acting at all against these terrorists is far worse. They use innocent children and women as human shields to protect themselves. They are awful people and we must eliminate the terrorists for the future of Pakistan to be safe and secure.
Where is the arrogance in all this? Due to this war on terror, America's treasury is practically empty. America is near exhaustion, paying in blood and treasure, to establish a principle- that it shall not be trifled with. Be that, by the terrorists in inflicting unprovoked terror on it or by its "most allied ally" in double-crossing and cheating it. The whole world empathizes with it in its plight. So, is the whole world arrogant, too? This editorial is in serious error which will be regretted by all fair-minded people!
When you don't have a partner then you have to do it yourself ---- you may call that arrogant but when your ally has proven time and time again to be two faced you have to deal with the situation at hand. .. Can the Editor say honestly say that Pakistan hasn't been supporting terrorist - how about something as simple as saying that Pakistan hasn't been providing sanctuary to terrorist? If the answer is NO then maybe it's the Editor who has been arrogant when writing about the arrogant American's.