"I am pleased to be able to report a very significant de-escalation in the use of armed drones by the United States in... Pakistan," Ben Emmerson told reporters in Geneva. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
"I am pleased to be able to report a very significant de-escalation in the use of armed drones by the United States in... Pakistan," Ben Emmerson told reporters in Geneva.
The total number of recorded strikes in 2013 was down to 27 from a peak of 128 in 2010, said Emmerson, who monitors respect for human rights in counter-terrorism operations.
"But perhaps most significantly, for the first time in nine years there were no reports of civilian casualties during 2013 in the FATA area of Pakistan," he added.
Drones, which beam footage to operators at distant US bases who then launch the strikes, are meant to allow precision hits.
But they have caused uproar in Pakistan over civilian casualties in botched strikes, as well as concerns that their use has hampered efforts to hold peace talks with the Taliban and breached national sovereignty.
Last May, US President Barack Obama raised the bar for launching attacks.
But despite the change of tack in Pakistan, Emmerson said that the picture in Afghanistan and Yemen was "much bleaker".
Citing a report by the UN Mission in Afghanistan, he said that there was a threefold increase in drone-related civilian casualties between 2012 and 2013.
A total of 45 Afghan civilians died in drone strikes last year, he said.
"And the picture in Yemen remains cause for serious concern. The frequency of armed drone strikes appears to have intensified, particularly during the closing months of 2013, with a sharp escalation in the number of reported civilian casualties," Emmerson said.
At least 12 people are believed to have died when a drone struck a wedding convoy in Yemen in December.
Emmerson spoke to reporters after addressing the UN Human Rights Council, where he presented research on dozens of drone strikes where civilians allegedly perished, pulled together by his team on a special website which helps reconstruct attacks.
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@numbersnumbers: Dear numbers, It is even more curious that you obviously do not care about the hundreds of thousands of men , women and children slaughtered by the West in several countries over the last 13 years, and even as we write our little missives an even greater number are suffering from radiation poisoning.in countries polluted by depleted uranium (U238). Make no mistake depleted uranium, commonly used by the Western military, is not depleted and has a half life 0f 4.468 billion years. In other words, large areas of Earth are polluted for ever.
i think emmerson was.....? if no pakistani civilian die in drones attacks then who are they..? our government still at stake and we are just enjoying the drones bcz civilian are not dying. i salute Emmersone for such relish report at such designation
Yeah !. Sitting hundred of miles away without being on ground, evaluation is fair enough. Several pictures and reports of children killed were defiantly terrorists.
@Sexton Blake: Let's see now, the targets of these drone strikes in Pakistan are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people in Pakistan and Afghanistan, mostly civilians! Curious that you don't appear to care about those Pakistanis and Afghans maimed and slaughtered over the years by your beloved Taliban and their friends! BTW, Emmerson states in his report that drone strikes are far more precise than other forms of military attacks on militants (such as dropping bombs from F-16s and using helicopter gunships), resulting in far fewer civilian casualties!!!
Isn't this strange. I read another article where Bob Emmerson was saying that strikes were up to about 500 and 45 civilians were killed. Who is reporting accurately. I wonder if ET will look into this. Oh, silly me, I just realized that the 500 strikes were in Afghanistan and not Pakistan. That makes it all better doesn't it?
@Zeeshan Khan: Dear Zeeshan, I am afraid you are wrong. People such as unbelievable always believe the propaganda.
Kuch to kaho Kaptaan, you have gone silent for too long on drone issue.
Before making any comment please read this
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/31/pakistan-report-saysonly3percentofdronedeathswerecivilians.html
We should be ashamed before making any comment, these people are our leaders. This is a joke not a UN report.
I wonder if Mr Emmerson also met up with unbelievable on the yellow brick road on his way to see the Wizard of Oz.
Well the tv news media then should be grilled severely for exaggerating and spreading false news of drones drones drones! People in threat,country in threat paranoia..inciting hate and disharmony among pakistani people for outside world...since it's UN version it's credible than ur tv debate media...that generalise and exaggerate everything...nor correct religious fanatic panelist when they tell stupid conspiracy theories without proof backing while the anchor just nods...a journalist is supported to report facts not tolerate panellist's assumption based on theories..not make 1 ka ten news....Spread panic and paranoia of war,country breaking etc..
But still I don't want the drone as it makes a deafening sound (while striking the target) and disturbs our sleep...
Extremists' sympathizers and apologists try to make excuses but the fact is drones are essential to get rid of cancer of extremism. In fact more drones are needed to purge extremists. Say no to extremism.
@Zeeshan Khan I don’t believe this…I
Don't believe what? The Pakistani version or the UN Version.
This is a joke. According to US, unless proved otherwise, all deaths in a drone attack are considered terrorist. No one knows the identity of any of terrorist they're killing. Every child over the age of 14 who dies in a drone attack is AUTOMATICALLY declared enemy combatant.
Thank you US, youre protecting the Pakistani people from these barbarians more than the Pak government is.
Meanwhile journalists died trying to report civilian deaths in FATA went up. Wonder if there is a connection.
That's suppose to be good news but I suspect it will stick in the craw of the anti American crowd.
I don't believe this...I am sure that no one would.....