Media watch: NATO, drones and sovereignty

Local media gives its views on the government's response to strikes by Nato and Isaf in Pakistan.

Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.

Our rulers’ duplicity

The government’s complicity in such barbarous killings of its own citizens is outrageous and must be strongly condemned. People are asking the question what it is that Islamabad has bartered away its sovereignty for? It is little wonder that the PPP and the President’s reputation has hit an all time low. (nation.com.pk)

Decoding the raids

There is no published limit to how far ISAF forces may go in 'hot pursuit' -- indeed there is no published agreement between our government and ISAF that they are going to be allowed 'hot pursuit' anyway. The interior minister was evasive about the matter when questioned about it in the Senate on Monday. (thenews.com.pk)

Nato’s stance

While it is true that the militants recognise no borders and the terrain is uncertain, it is important for allies to respect each other’s mandate and territory. The only hope for effectively breaking the militant-terrorist nexus lies in close cooperation and coordination among the various stakeholders, including the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan. (dawn.com)

No more carrots?

Pakistan must stop providing safe havens to the Afghan Taliban. This policy has run its course and sooner or later the ‘carrot and stick’ policy will give way to a big stick only. We cannot afford to alienate the US and its western allies at a time when our economy is in tatters, the floods have proved to be one of the biggest natural disasters in our living memory, and we are fighting a war against the terrorists on our soil. (dailytimes.com.pk)

Nato strikes inside Pakistan

The helicopter incursions point to a dangerous escalation. Public sentiments are already highly inflamed over relentless US drone strikes that have claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent Pakistanis. Incidents involving manned aerial strikes can only add fuel to the fire. (brecorder.com)