Foreign Office summons US diplomat over drone strikes
The FO stated that drone strikes are illegal and are against international laws.
There has been a dramatic increase in US drone strikes in Pakistan since May, this year.
At least nine suspected militants were killed on August 22, when US drones targeted a vehicle in the Sheen Khwar area on the outskirts of Humzonee village, around four kilometres from Miramshah.
Pakistan has repeatedly called for an end to the strikes, calling them counter productive.
It was recently reported by website Bloomberg – which quoted two US officials – that US President Barack Obama has ordered a “sharp increase” in drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal area.
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Dear Drone.....KEEP UP! Majority of Pakistanis salute you and support you, because it helps exterminating most heinous monsters of time, who does not care the human values....
In fact, Pakistanis are more insecure from Militants than Drones.....These radicals are determine to sabotage all aspects of peace and tranquility in Pakistan, and never care to kill innocent Pakistanis....
It's obvious there is always collateral damage....however, locals who host militants should get rid of them, if state is not forcing them, then Drones are best option....
ALL THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSING DRONES>>>>>DON"T KNOW when 2 dozen innocent pakistanis were killed by militants from Wazirstan on 27th Ramadan, on way to their homes to celebrate EID....
@SI: "Shoot down the drone and the satellite that guides it." Satellite, too? Please spare the satellite. They cost a lot of money. Would you be satisfied if US gives a guarantee of future good behaviour? " Problem solved." In your dreams! "Karo dosto pahle aap apni izzat, jo chaho karein log izzat ziyada!"
@Enlightened:
Agree with you 100%. Shoot down the drone and the satellite that guides it. Problem solved.
'The FO stated that drone strikes are illegal and are against international laws.' SORRY, is their any body listening out there??????? Can anyone hear ME!!!! Why am i getting a could shoulder?????? Oh by the way the matter is taken up by OUR parliament. And also it was elected democraticaly..... Wow... what is happenning. Can the Minister of Mis-Information give us a reply?
@Ninja: "International Law only applies to weak countries."
Are you implying that Pakistan is a weak country? Despite its atomi taaqat?
"US with their usual contumacy will keep on doing that till such time as we have a strong government in place." "Contumacy" - stubborn resistance to authority. Which authority? Pakistan? You must be joking. Does Pakistan exercise sovereignty in those areas? If it does, it is legally bound, under UN Security Council resolutions to do what drones are forced to do. Pakistan has neither the will nor the resources to do so. Ipso facto, it has lost any authority it might have had. And, even when you do have " a strong government in place", what do you expect that "strong government" to do? Flex its muscles? You will be on dangerous territory, if you do so. Grin and bear it!
Vienna,August 23,2012 If the Foreign Office,FO was unmanned like the drones? No name had been mentioned on "anonymity agreement"? Of course there can be computer voice call for admonition under the reciprocity principle of the FO ? I enjoyed the report all the same. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
This is an exercise in futility.........US with their usual contumacy will keep on doing that till such time as we have a strong government in place.
US is free to take all those steps which is required to won the war against terrorism . Peace loving people in Pakistan are in fevour of Drone strikes since it has prooved it's effectiveness in the on going war .
Let the Drones increase activities that our military is incapable of achieving.
International Law only applies to weak countries.
Are terrorist camps operating from North Waziristan legal? Does the state own the terrorists operating from it's soil, butchering men, women, and children; slaughtering Shias? If not, we ought to be thankful to the US for doing dirty work for us.
"The FO stated that drone strikes are illegal and are against international laws."
Wrong! The drone strikes may be in violation of Pakistan's domestic laws but under the post-9/11 U.N. Security Council Resolution 1373 - a Resolution was approved by Pakistan's own diplomats - Pakistan has the binding sovereign obligation in international law to root out terrorists, terror havens, terror training camps, and terror financing from its territory. Demonstrable failure on Pakistan’s part to act – as in North Wazirstan – means Pakistan’s sovereignty is nulled when other nations do so.
We may not hear this argument much from diplomats because since 2006 reports about Pakistan’s noncompliance with 1373 have been classified by the Security Council. With that act, much discussion was shut down as well. However, if this “against international laws” theme keeps getting pushed by Pakistan perhaps members of the UNSC will want to declassify these reports. Who knows what dirt about Pakistan will be shown to the world?
So, terrorists and militants roaming free is no threat to sovereignty and is OK under international laws? I believe drones are the best, cheapest and easiest way to get rid of the snakes.
It should have written, The Foreign Office (FO) summoned a senior US diplomat and protested against the US drone strikes in the country over (Good Taliban)...l
Ummm .... the bloomberg article you cite is almost 3 months old. A lot has changed in those 3 months. Surely, you can't call that "recent".
Actual fact maybe that foreign office invited the US diplomat to congratulate
Illegal? So were the invasions of Iraq, and Afghanistan. The government supported the war on Afghanistan, by allowing the US to use our land for supplies, and our air bases for bombing/drones. Also whats with the "mighty" army of Pakistan? Are they incapable of taking on the drones?
how it was revealed on foreign office that drone strikes are illegal?
Waste of paper and ink.
What a joke. Make mockery of your self.
If foreign office is seriously offended about the drones attack and consider this act against the sovereignty of the country, it should stop NATO supplies with immediate effect.
Who's the Foreign Minister of Pakistan?