What is stopping our military from shooting down the drones?
LAHORE: The government has reacted strongly to the drone attack in North Waziristan following Raymond Davis’s release. It called the American ambassador to the Foreign Office, where he was given an official protest note and the prime minister and the army chief joined in as well with their condemnation of the attack. In the past, I remember one air chief publicly saying that the air force could shoot down the drones but needed the sanction of the government.
My question, quite simply, is: When our government and military is publicly condemning these drone attacks and saying that they will encourage even greater extremism, what is stopping either from shooting them down? Also, can the government and/or the military please clarify if the US government is still being allowed to use Pakistani bases for these attacks?
Ali Usman
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2011.
