Disagreement on drones

Letter March 10, 2011
I think the whole argument that terrorists can be fought with air strikes is wrong.

SINGAPORE: This is with reference to your editorial of March 10 titled “Drone myth put to rest?”. I think the whole argument that terrorists can be fought with air strikes is wrong and is not supported by history.

Violence and suicide bombings in Pakistan have grown at an exponential rate since the drone attacks began. Also, you have quoted facts and survey results of an organisation that has not been around for too long and whose credibility is yet to be established. Furthermore, the editorial should have mentioned the fact that the military’s spokesperson has said that the remarks given by the said major-general, who happens to be the general officer commanding of the Seventh Division, were his own. You have written such a definitive editorial because you believe in the line — that the drone attacks are beneficial — and not because the facts point in that direction.

Yousuf Nazar

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2011.