ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday acknowledged “tactical advantages” to US drone strikes on the Taliban and al Qaeda, but appeared to shrug off the unexpected confirmation by Washington of attacks on its soil.
The remarks from Pakistan’s foreign ministry came as President Barack Obama confirmed for the first time that drone aircraft had targeted militants in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal areas on the Afghan border.
“Notwithstanding tactical advantages of drone strikes, we are of the firm view that these are unlawful, counterproductive and hence unacceptable,” ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told AFP in a text message.
“Our view has always been very clear and position principled,” he added.
US diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks in late 2010 showed that Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders privately supported US drone attacks, despite public condemnation in a country where the US alliance is hugely unpopular.
When asked about drones in a chat with web users on Google+ and YouTube, Obama said “a lot of these strikes have been in the FATA” – Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Relations between the United States and Pakistan deteriorated sharply in 2011, over the covert American raid that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May and US air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November.
Islamabad is now reviewing its entire alliance with the United States and has kept its Afghan border closed to Nato supply convoys since November 26.
It ordered US personnel to leave Shamsi air base in western Pakistan, widely believed to have been a hub for the CIA drone program, and is thought likely to only reopen the Afghan border by exacting taxes on convoys.
COMMENTS (28)
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@Tim Hover taliban were proxies of USA during afghan russia war Correction- The Taliban were created byPakistan AFTER the Soviets left Afghanistan. The Mujahideen/Northern Alliance were US proxies in the Soviet-afghan war.
@Colonel: Soldiers never fire until fired upon,I don't know how you have said so,Sprinkling of Dollars,Riyals and Darhams through people like you was the main cause in70s,80s so on,elder always say ,FATA is place of all illegal trades where money is everything,killing of a soldier is a business,who has funded TTP and Jundullah,you have a answer.
@Raj - USA: Ever heard of proxies? taliban were proxies of USA during afghan russia war, now a days they are proxies of USA against pakistan. please dont pretend you dont know whats going on in sub-continent.
So how exactly is the PAK government planning to get rid the terrorists if the drones are banned. So far the PAK military/intelligence has utterly failed at getting the terrorists, and some even question if they are not in cahoots with the terrorists. What is one to think of OBL finding safe haven a stone’s throw away from PAK’s elite military training facilities? What is one to think of when about 20 of the top 30 Al Qaeda members have been killed by drone strikes in PAK.?
And why is this acknowledgement by Obama that U.S. drones are going after terrorists in PAK a surprise for anybody? You think this is some super secret that just got released! We all know the drones strikes have been going for a long time. There is nothing new in this, other than the ignorant nationalists once again spewing slogans and rallying their chest-thumping army of so called “believers” out in the street to vent anger.
If anything the PAKs should be thankful that the drones are doing what PAK is incapable of doing for its citizens. How many PAKs have been blown off by the acts of these terrorists?
@Ambreen: So, USA is the biggest terrorist here. OK. But who are the terrorists in Pakistan killing? They are killing Pakistanis. If your enemy kills some of your family, you go and kill the rest of your family? Strange logic.
Sure, drone attacks have killed innocent bystanders, which is very sad. But how else can the Pakistan Taliban and all the other murderous extremist groups be contained? Its all very well to bleat about negotiations and extending olive branches but history is littered with examples of what happens when the route of appeasement is taken.
When talking about the innocents killed in drone attacks, lets also not forget the victims of Taliban suicide bombers. I'm sure their families are cheering for the drones. And rightfully so!
here`s more info on the drones..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10713898
The US threatened to bomb Pakistan "back to the stone age" unless it joined the fight against al-Qaeda, President Pervez Musharraf has said. General Musharraf said the warning was delivered by former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to Pakistan's intelligence director. Since in last one decade Pakistan did not cooperated full heartedly (read double crossing), drones are part of bombing Pakistan to stone age.
@ahsan: Please refer to ambreen's comment
@Raj - USA: This logic applies when the Biggest Terrorists USA kills innocents and there family members seek revenge, thats what we have been talking here Action has always Reaction, Drones provoke many victims family members to join hands with people who are fighting against USA
Drones are popularly known as Ababeel in Waziristan. Common people love them and they know that as long as these ababeels are up there in the sky, the terrorists have no place to hide. if the drones were so bad or its strikes resulted in the killing of innocents, then why the people are not condomning through street protests. The is 21st century, my friends, and no one can stop the spread of free information which might not help our agencies
@BS.Detecter:
"Do anyone thinks that if one innocent if killed, their entire household will be out there for revenge"
Why does this logic not apply when terrorists kill innocent civilians in suicide and bomb attacks and their entire household is not out there to seek revenge?
@ahsan: So drones do not kill innocents?? watch out reports of HRW. If theses strikes are so accurate and only way to stop terrorism then whats shame in admitting publicly that Gov. has allowed these strikes????
@Cautious: - yes that's just it Cautious has spoken for many of us - Pak has lost control , reluctant to control those tribal areas and those lawless guys are flouting all international norms and laws .... so we need the usa to help and they have chosen the method of drones to limit their human losses ...... had Pak cpontrol over the tribal areas there would have been no need for drones.
While the Drones keep doing their job quietly, we keep playing the same old tape of condemnation. They both have great understanding to fool the Pakistani public.
This whole talk of Pashtun exceptionalism to humane behaviour is as unconscionable as American exceptionalism. No one is culturally entitled to guns and bloodshed.
The World has little sympathy for Pakistan on this issue - the reality is that you don't control vast sections of Pakistan and militants use your territory to attack your neighbors and allies. You want to get rid of the drones - then take control of your territory - if not - then quit whining.
@Colonel: My words exactly.
Do anyone thinks that if one innocent if killed, their entire household will be out there for revenge, and then you call them terrorists, militants or whatever and bomb them again. absolutely disgusting.
Its in Pashtun tradition take revenge of any harm done to them.
Who is stopping us to gun down drones?? We are not fools. We know it is our own wish.
keep killing until every house in FATA becomes a factory of Suicide bomber's, Action has always reaction
Double standard by US. CIA might be knowing that Gen Musharraf was the man who was hiding OSAMA in Abbotabad. The same culprit is residing in their countries for last 2-3 years and no drone strike ???
The Pakistan government should delay banning the drone strikes till all high value Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders are eliminated.
You keep attacking, we will keep complaining to restrain our public.
You either support it or you don't!!! It can't be like it's good for us but we don't want it!!
If the government can't make its mind then how do they expect U.S to stop the drone strikes!!
Fait accompli; no way of going back after clandestine support but public censure.
FO is really foreign