Drones and diplomacy

There can be no doubt that such attacks complicate the task of combating militancy by increasing anti-US sentiment.

As diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the US become increasingly tense, with sharp jibes being exchanged as the usual placid phrases of diplomacy are dropped, more drone strikes in North Waziristan have worsened matters. The aircraft rained down their deadly cargo of bombs in North Waziristan, chiefly around the Mirali area. Key US officials have, in recent days, made it clear that the Haqqani network, led by the aging Jalaluddin Haqqani and his sons, is based in this region. As ties have become more and more strained, the US has also not minced words in accusing the ISI of working with the Haqqanis — close allies of the Pakistani intelligence apparatus since the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan during the 1980s, when Jalaluddin emerged as a key mujahideen hero.

Today, Washington believes the network, which commands wide respect among other militant forces, is engaged in attacks on US troops stationed across the Durand Line. While there has been some effort to patch over the differences, with Army Chief General Kayani also stressing Pakistan was doing all it could against militants, the acrimony between the two sides, notably since the Raymond Davis affair earlier this year, has been impossible to hide. It has also exposed the fact that the militants are not a homogenous group and that Pakistan sees the so-called Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan as its key enemy.

There are many issues here. On a humanitarian basis, the deaths of 25 citizens, some of them women and children, in the latest drone attacks is a tragedy. There can be no doubt that such attacks complicate the task of combating militancy for Pakistan by increasing anti-US sentiment. The question of our sovereignty arises, too, and the hard fact of life is that, at this juncture, doing without the US is no easy matter given that our bank balance hardly inspires confidence. Washington and Islamabad need to work together towards solutions. Unless these are found the situation will only worsen and add to the militant menace which has taken a massive toll on Pakistan and its people. It is in our interest that we eradicate the problem so that life in our country can move on.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2011.