No drone strikes in Pakistan after 2014, none at least launched from Afghanistan

Zalmay Rasool says Afghanistan will not be used for launching attacks on neighbouring countries after 2014 pullout.


Reuters April 05, 2012
No drone strikes in Pakistan after 2014, none at least launched from Afghanistan

DUBAI: Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasool said on Thursday that his country would not be used as a launching pad for US drones attacks on neighbouring countries after NATO combat forces leave by the end of 2014.         

"Afghan soil will not be used against any country in the region," Rasool told Al Jazeera television when asked if Washington would be allowed to launch drone strikes against Pakistan after the troops' withdrawal.

US-operated drones have carried out deadly missile strikes against suspected al Qaeda targets in Pakistan since 2004, with attacks peaking in 2010.

"The presence of the remaining forces in Afghanistan is for training, equipping and securing Afghanistan's security. It has been mentioned, it is going to be mentioned, that this force is not for use against any neighbours in the region," Rasool told the Doha-based channel.

Rasool was in Qatar for talks over the opening of Taliban office in Doha.

COMMENTS (40)

AIN | 12 years ago | Reply

@Freeman: BTW I am from Lahore & Pakistani punjabi and please be realistic rather then sheer optimistic. Have u ever visit any religious sermon in which other sects are being declared as “wajib ul qatal”,have u ever talked with any Bloch in queeta…u can even observe anger from their face. What’s going on in interior sindh on the name of sindhu dash,Gilglit Baltistan in on fire…..do u still think that we need any other enemy??? Its time to be wake up and to do some soild things rather to assume that nothing will happen to Pakistan. There is heat in afghanistan and it will go against the pak in future..Thanks to Zia who made taliban and now they are ready to eat pakistan.

Tony C. | 12 years ago | Reply

@Devin Leonard: Dear Devin, I do not recall the Afghans inviting the U.S. into Afghanistan. However, it is noticeable that you did not mention the morality of U.S. activity in Afghanistan.

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