- 18 Nov 2011
Two Britons killed in Waziristan drone strike: Reports - 08 Nov 2011
Drone strikes must stop: Human rights lawyer - 05 Nov 2011
‘Tightening the rules’: CIA makes concessions on drone campaign - 17 Nov 2011
Taliban fighters among 16 dead in S Waziristan drone strike - 01 Nov 2011
Drone Strike: Three militants killed, say officials
- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.1
Alerts
Britain questioned over links to US drone strikes
Lawyers representing son of a victim inquire about London’s alleged links to CIA’s covert war.
Lawyers have asked the British Foreign Office to explain role of British forces deployed in Afghanistan in relaying information for US drone strikes.
LONDON: Lawyers representing Pakistani national Noor Khan – who says his father was killed in a US drone strike – called on Britain on Saturday to reveal whether it provided intelligence to help the US launch the attacks.
British lawyers Leigh Day and Co. have written a letter to British Foreign Secretary William Hague, demanding answers over London’s alleged links to the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) covert drone war.
In particular, they want to know whether British intelligence was used in the March attack in northwest Pakistan that, they claim, killed the father of their client, Khan.
The lawyers cite media reports, which detail how British intelligence agencies provided information on the location of militants targeted by the drones.
“We ask the foreign secretary whether any information is being passed by agents of the UK government to US government forces to assist in these attacks,” said Richard Stein, the head of Leigh Day and Co.’s human rights team.
“Unless it is categorically denied that the UK continues to pass such information to the US government forces, we require a clear policy statement of the arrangements which are in place and circumstances in which the UK considers it to be lawful to do so,” he added in a statement.
Clive Stafford Smith, head of British legal charity Reprieve, added: “CIA drone strikes are killing huge numbers of civilians and destabilising Pakistan.
“The British people have a right to know what their country’s policy is regarding our involvement in this illegal and disastrous campaign.”
A British Foreign Office spokesman said: “We will study this letter closely and respond to the issues raised.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2011.
Reader Comments (7)
World Latest Stories
PIA UK flight forced to land amid fighter escort
Altercation between two passengers alarmed the crew who called for help. Both passengers have been arrested.
LHC petition seeks re-opening of Ghazi Ilm Din, Bhagat Singh cases
A single bench of the LHC referred the petitions to the chief justice.
Pakistan remains opposed to drones after Obama speech
Islamabad says it welcomes some aspects of Obama's address.
New concerns for China's rising middle class
Middle class have concerns about air pollution, food safety and China's education system.
Cars, schools torched in fifth night of Stockholm riots
The troubles are believed to have been triggered by fatal shooting of a machete wielding 69-year-old Husby resident.
Militants kill three soldiers in Indian Kashmir: Army
The bodies of the soldiers have not yet been retrieved.
Reframing policies: Obama limits use of drone strikes
Obama also paid respect to thousands of Pakistani soldiers who have lost their lives fighting extremists.
Analysis: Beyond the Himalayan hyperbole
We have few friends in the region, and simply cannot afford to let the Chinese partnership sour.
Powering the relationship: Nawaz wants energy, not aid, from China
PM-to-be will visit Beijing at the earliest opportunity after taking oath.
Recent Slideshows
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2013 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? [email protected]
No unprovoked war can ever be justified.
USA unprovoked attack and occupation of Afghanistan is a horrendous criminal and cowardly act, worse than Hitler’s attack upon Poland, carried out by Fascist Christian coalition upon an utterly weak and defenseless country.
Act of using drones is clearly an act of war and terrorism upon innocent and unaware citizens.
It is proof enough that it is the Fascists Christian and not the Peaceful Muslim world that breeds terrorism, harbours terrorists, provides safe haven to terrorists and carries out international acts of hatred via terrorism and hired killers against the Muslim world.
This should be brought to light in UN. Russia is already pointing finger at USA for having killed Gadhafi through pure inhumane act of terrorism. Iran has already pointed out that the criminal act of 9/11 was drummed up by USA itself and carried out by home brewed terrorists.
USA, as well as an other suspect country forming the so called USA/NATO/ISAF, needs and must be charged with theses criminal acts against humanity at all levels of justice and denounced internationally.
Recommend
@Dr KH Mian:
dont go by your emotions sir, 9/11 happened just like ghq attack just like mumbai attack and like these drones.
over-response to an event generally causes curiosity among the spectators that is this action valid or the event is really what it is shown or seen.
i respect your sensitivity toward jews persecution in nazi germany by christians but there are people being killed by terrorists in many countries specially south asian countries by the maniacs hovering in afghanistan and frontiers of pakistan
Recommend
@Khalis
Why they dont alow investication of 9/11 and khalistan movment was also terrorist movement
and what israel doing in palestine and india doing in kashmir is not it terroriam??? and what is diffrence bet Nazis and israeli Racism??
Recommend
@khalis:
I am surprised that this guy is doctor !!! Doctor of what??/ Recommend
@Dr KH Mian:
So you say that “Iran has already pointed out that the criminal act of 9/11 was drummed up by USA itself and carried out by home brewed terrorists”!
Wow, it must be true because Iran says so, just like Iran says the “Holocaust” in WW2 that killed more than six million jews NEVER HAPPENED!
So please tell us how the 19 Muslim terrorists (15 Saudi) that committed 9/11 are “home brewed terrorists”!
Recommend
@Dr KH Mian:
Never hesitate to make Pakistan an international joke. Or the possession of a doctorate a joke.
Recommend
@numbersnumbers:
Wow! It must be God’s own truth if USA Government and its controlled media says so like Iraq having Weapons of Mass Destruction.
One living in a make believe world of lies can never distinguish fact from fiction. Wake up USA! Listen to Alex Jones and Webster Tarplev and so many other creditable USA independent reporters/journalists.
Recommend