America fighting wrong war, against wrong people, with wrong methods: Sartaj Aziz

Advisor to Prime Minister says Pakistan has support of the international community on its stance against drones.

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday reiterated once again that drone strikes in Pakistan were a violation of its sovereignty, had caused colossal collateral damage and that Pakistan will continue to build international public opinion against them.

He was talking to the media after addressing a book launching ceremony here at Islamabad Institute of Strategic Study.

While commenting on the book "The Thistle and the Drone: How America's War on Terror Became a Global War on Tribal Islam", Aziz endorsed the view that drone attacks had violated tribal culture, saying that America was fighting the wrong war against the wrong people with the wrong methods.

Aziz was confident that Pakistan enjoyed backing of the international community over its stance against drones, which he claimed was indicated in the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in condemnation of drone attacks.

He said the government will be approaching the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva for a similar resolution.

Musharraf's use of force damaged tribal culture

The foreign policy adviser said the current government was using force against those elements who were challenging the writ of the government in the tribal areas.

He did not, however, say the same about force used by former President Pervez Musharraf. Aziz asserted the way Musharraf had used force damaged tribal culture, making it difficult to achieve peace with militants in the region.

Aziz said the war on terror in the last decade had resulted in more damage than achievements in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

On the progress of negotiations with Taliban, Aziz said some contacts had been established in this regard, but refused to elaborate any further.

He did say that besides starting negotiations with the Taliban and initiating development projects in the tribal areas, the government had decided to strengthen the border areas to stop illegal movement of people across the border.

According to Aziz, the government has established its writ in seven of eight tribal agencies and was making efforts to establish its writ in the final agency.

America fighting the wrong war, with the wrong people, with the wrong methods

Earlier, the Advisor addressed the audience on the of launch the book, The Thistle and the Drone: How America's War on Terror Became a Global War on Tribal Islam, written by Akbar Ahmed.

Appreciating Ahmed's efforts toward writing a comprehensive book on the issue of war against terror and tribal culture, he agreed that the war had destroyed tribal culture, commenting on prevalent ignorance of the values and realities of tribal societies and how the book had illuminated them.

He opined that the use of drones against tribal people was paradoxical. In dissecting the conflict, he said, the analogy of thistle and the drones is very revealing.

He said that America was fighting the wrong war with wrong methods against the wrong people.

Speaking on the occasion, author Professor Akbar Ahmed said the drone had become a symbol of America's war on terror.

He said its main targets appeared to be Muslim tribal groups belonging to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, on Kurds in Turkey and Tausug in the Philippines.

These, he said, were some of the most impoverished and isolated in the world, with identities that are centuries old had become the targets of the 21st century's most advanced killing technology.

The author remarked that drones had become an emblem of the weaponry of a globalized era: high-tech in performance, sleek in appearance and global in reach.

Speaking on the societal structure of the tribal regions, Professor Ahmad said three main pillars essential for the stability of tribal culture — tribal elders, Mullah, and Political agent have been destroyed in the tribal areas that has disturbed the law and order situation.

He said it was important to ensure the basic rights of the people living in tribal areas in order to improve the situation.