A diplomatic memo says a location was hit at the request of Pakistani government. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The purported evidence of Islamabad's involvement came as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the White House and urged an end to the attacks, which are widely unpopular with the public.
The support for drone attacks has long been widely suspected, although strikes reported by the Post involved several years up to 2011 - before a slowdown in strikes and Nawaz's election in May.
The newspaper said that top-secret documents and Pakistani diplomatic memos showed that the Central Intelligence Agency had drafted documents to share information on drone attacks with Pakistan.
At least 65 drone strikes were marked for discussion with Pakistan, including through briefings at its embassy in Washington and in materials sent physically to senior officials in Islamabad.
In one case in 2010, a document describes hitting a location "at the request of your government." Another file referred to a joint effort at picking targets.
The article - co-written by Bob Woodward, one of the two journalists who broke the Watergate scandal in the 1970s - said that the documents also showed that the United States raised concerns that extremists were linked to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
In one incident, then secretary of state Hillary Clinton confronted Pakistan about cell phones and written materials from dead bodies of militants that showed links to the ISI.
In turn, a Pakistani memo gave the names of 36 US citizens believed to be CIA agents and urged the embassy in Washington not to issue visas to them, the newspaper said.
The report came a day after Amnesty International said that the United States may have broken international law by killing civilians with drones.
It pointed to an October 2012 attack that killed a 68-year-old grandmother as she picked vegetables.
For the first six months of 2011, 152 combatants were killed, according to a table cited by the Post that did not list any civilian casualties.
The Obama administration has defended drone strikes as a better way to avoid civilian casualties, saying that it carefully selects al Qaeda-linked extremists in lawless parts of Pakistan.
COMMENTS (55)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714024018-0/ModiLara-(1)1714024018-0-270x192.webp)
@JAM: what are you talking about?
If any international award left as "double game" then no doubt pakistan will be the champion.
When Black Water was found working in previous Govt of Asif Ali Zardari, American denies any existence of their Elite groups of Force in Pakistan; When they had CIA agent Killed a local citizen in Lahore; Raymond Blanc they denied that he is CIA agent; but did certainly save him after the outcry of People of Pakistan and his case is still in Senate verifying that he was a CIA agent. These sort of killings does not go well for US and Pakistan democracy; these deaths must be stopped. The secret is quite an open vogue. Nothing new, Its known that Pakistani Govt is doing this poster boy job for USA & in return the American senate is doing something for them.
@Aina Maria Waseem Bravo,girl! You have been kept busy!!
It is a very good opportunity for India to take care of this evil Name Pakistan for good, and by doing so the whole world will be thankful to them.
ETBLOGS1987
@Parvez: "This is now common knowledge………..the realisation that our leaders have over the years betrayed the people has also sunk in".
IT is interesting though that despite such realisation, when India accuses Pakistan of reigniting the LoC after 10 years of ceasefire and Pakistani leadership denies and blames India instead, Pakistani people trust their own leaders who have repeatedly lied to them. If instead, they questioned the wisdom of an unnecessary conflagration on the eastern front when there is already a fire on the western front, the government would be forced to review its actions.This is not the first time Nawaz has spoken peace but acted war.
And guess who was the Foreign Minister during that period?? Of course, Makhdoomzada Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Vice Chairman of PTI remained the Foreign Minister during 2008-2011 when the then government secretly allowed Drone Attacks.... . This is similar to a double-cross by another PTI leader Khursheed Kasuri who tacitly allowed kidnapping of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from Pakistan and then joining public rallies for the release of Dr Aafia. Thank you Washington Post for exposing these double crosses!
So far Pakistan played double game against India, now Pakistan is not only playing double game with its people and also with its assets, why this much dishonesty, already no one in India trusts Pakistan Government, now it looks Pakistan people also won't trust what their Government say to them.
Pakistan did endorse the strikes and provided most of the intel for the targets - but the USA discovered that the target list excluded most of the "bad guys" they were really after and they eventually developed their own intel - that's when the Pakistan/USA relations started to go downhill. Remember the days when the govt never mentioned drone strikes and Pakistan General said they were highly effective with almost no civilian casualties - then the USA targeted some "strategic assets" and suddenly drones were bad.
Excerpt from New York Time's coverage of the Lion's visit to Washington:
"Aside from the reference to drones — delivered in a tone so soft that reporters in the room strained to hear him — Mr. Sharif also sounded conciliatory."
Meow, meow!
@Aakashvaani: Thank you very much. Glad to know it is possible for a whole nation to be made up of evil people.
@Indra: Id like to see where Islam comes in all this. Arguments should have at least SOME backing to them.
@vicky shah: Dear Sir somebeody obviously forgot to tell you that a mere provincial government that does not even head the opposition cannot control foreign policy, (not to mention drones happened long before PTI even had KP) or maybe you think drones are a domestic issue. Id be the first to blame PTI for localized crime in KP, which happens to be a provincial issue, but there is a difference betwen that and terrorism.
@ahmer: Oh yes, no civilians die in drone strikes and the victims of Parade Lane Rawalpindi (an attack done in RETALIATION of drones) weren't innocent young men and children with good education. They were blood-thirsty murderers.
@JAM: For heaven's sake! How much more lame can one get? When slinging mud at PTI, at least remember that it has no say in such matters even now it has a provincial government. It takes an idiot (and PTI haters are obviously not up to even that level) to know drones started long before 11th May 2013
ETBLOGS1987
@islooboy: What part of @Modified's comment was racist? Which part was misinformed? If you disagree with what he says, please spell out what you disagree with. Such ad hominem attacks are in poor taste.
@syed baqar ahsan: It is Pakistan which willingly offered its services to US in 1948 not the other way around. While India chose to stay non aligned, Pakistan got free arms and free cash by willing to do US bidding.
NS US visit has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ He should confine his travels to Turkey and China only.
So basically is mai argument yeah ho ga k " when Black Water was found working in previous Govt of Asif Ali Zardari, American denies any existance of their Elite groups of AntiTerrostTaskForce (ATTF) in Pakistan; When they had CIA agent Killed a local citizen in Lahore; Raymond Blanc they denied that he is CIA agent; but did certainly save him after the outcry of People of Pakistan and his case is still in Senate verifying that he was a CIA agent. This sort of killings does not go well for US and Pakistan democracy; these deaths must be stopped. The secret is quite an open vague. Nothing new, Its known that Pakistani Govt is doing this poster boy job for USA & in return the American senate is doing something for them.They never talk about Billions of Dollars that they receive for such support!
@ModiFied: ha ha boy you are a misinformed racsist
This is why pakistan called double standard.
@mbd4u: hmm great they give money, they kill with drones . I am confused .
Pakistan government used US in the name of War on terror. US taxpayers got screwed. I hope this should be a wakeup call for American public.
This clearly shows Pakistan is playing double games with their non-State actors. This is the reason Taliban are fighting back.
US got fooled by Pakistanis. It is time US should let every one know, how much bounty money Pakistanis got for pinpointing targets, how much Pakistanis made for helping US find drone targets.
@Aakashvaani: You are a disgrace to all the Indians. You wish bad for humans- is this what they have taught you in schools. You are blaming doctorisation of the whole generation of Pakistanis but what about doctorisation of the whole generation of Indians who know nothing but hate Pakistanis. Teach only what you have learnt yourself. I am not condoning the acts of terrorists in Pakistan but remember- all Pakistanis are not terrorists. So stop stereotyping.
Top brass of Pakistani Armed Forces with fat salaries, fatter perks & fattest post-retirement bonuses have lost the will to fight! So they 'hire' the assets of American Armed Forces to do what they are paid to do as their duty. But ISPR, the only wing of Pakistani Armed Forces that works efficiently, keeps glorifying these nincompoops! They are expert liars!
Of course, it was endorsed ! Which other Nation would have tolerated this many strikes, without running to UN and complaining about its territory being infringed ! But for this Land of Fools, their Ghairat always comes in the way of dealing with issues and facing the reality, hence all the drama for public consumption !
Now that civilian collateral damage of Drone attacks is being highlighted via Amnesty International and Human rights groups by pakistan, it would be appropriate if collateral civilian casualties of over 8000 PAF sorties and bombing runs in Fata are also made public. After all those killed in PAF raids, which included women and small kids, were also Pakistani nationals and human beings. Human rights should be protected for all including those who are missing persons abducted by agencies and those who are periodically discovered as dead bodies in abandoned sacks, not just victim of drone attacks.
My dear Pakistani Friends, this news leak to Washington Post was done deliberately by the US government as a farewell gift to Mr Nawaz Sharif. Americans have shown the mirror to Pakistan and the so called Amnesty International. When will Pakistan learn the lesson? Same is happening at LOC with India. Its your army and their assets who are the real trouble makers. and you are fed the lies that India is violating ceasefire agreement.
In one case in 2010, a document describes hitting a location “at the request of your government.” Another file referred to a joint effort at picking targets.
If Nawaz, or Imran or Zardari have a favorite target in Pakistan to hit then they can dial 1-800-DRONE-THEM and request a strike by America.
Pakistan is the stinking putrid sump of cheats and liars, nothing less, nothing more. You not only lie to everybody else but to your own people as well, then you pretend to be the fortress of Islam. A country fed with motivated blatant lies about history, culture, religion, language and everything about your existence. In Pakistan, the world is witnessing, 'how badly can conspiracy theories delude a whole generations mindset' and perhaps there is a lesson. This country has no sovereignty and no rights, please USA, continue droning, if they like it or not.
hmm great they give money, they kill with drones . I am confused .
So where's the public apology to the USA for all that "violating sovereignty" nonsense?
Armatige came and said "Are you with us or Not" so we said with you how come monster comes and one make hue & cry,American for there purpose use might so our army and prime intelligence was with them so openly or quietly or secret so it do not any make difference.
@Last Word: we have only learned from Americans double gaming nothing else in last 66 years American was the first to hug us for own misuse innocent Pakistan and people,this is truth you may say anything.
Waziristan is under drone attacks because Waziristan is the ANUS of Pakistan.
Drones Attack on Waziristan will only stop once US also Hit E/F Sectors in Islamabad, Westridge Pindi, Hayatabad /University Town in Peshawar, Greater Mardan/Charsada, Gulberg/DHA in Lahore and Clifton/KDA in Karachi. These are posh and ruling elite areas in various cities in Pakistan
Pakistan D ++++++++++ D for duplicitious................
Islam has failed Pakistan..an ideological state.
Why can't our government own the fact that drone strikes are good tool against war on terror? Lets call a spade a spade.
This is now common knowledge...........the realisation that our leaders have over the years betrayed the people has also sunk in.
Ofcourse they approve. They should even thank US for doing their job. This cleaning of these barbarians would not have been possible if it was not for US. Pakistan cannot do it.
How come our military consciously let this to happend in their own country? This is the result of American Aid!, because if our military take the action against these drone strikes then they have to endur the worst economic situation of the country! So for to run govt affairs Army is silent on Drone Strikes and Govt is full flag coporating Americans! Whr is our PTI now? Whr r the Sue moto actions? Whr is the Jamait e Islami? Whr is the Huma Right NGOs? Whr is the Amnestry International?
Nothing new.Its known that Pakistani Govt is doing this but is publicly posturing as if USA is doing something against their wishes.They never talk about Billions of Dollars that they receive for such support!
how come this is even a NEWS????/
it justifies attack on govt and public property by the innocent people whose family have been killed by drones...
As if we didnt know that............
My advice to PMLn government. Stop telling lies to the public.
We all know this. Every kid knows that without approval of army, drones can't operate in Pakistan. The f-16's or even the junk J-16's are capable to take out the drones in no time.
This is the reason why TTP is attacking the army. Why is it the main headline, only ET knows.
Drones are good as they are the only thing that these Taliban animals and their sympathizers are afraid of. Please use more of them so that we can live our lives in peace in the rest of Pakistan.
Pakistan is the world champion in playing double games after revelation of this secret document.
very secretly Endorsed by PTI
More smoke and mirrors. When will the populace of Pakistan get to know the truth ?