Pakistan clears airspace for US to conduct drone strikes: Report
According to the report, the intended target areas are “outlined” to the Pakistani intelligence service which posits that Pakistan gives an unspoken consent to the US forces to conduct these strikes within its borders.
However, when the WSJ reached representatives of the White House’s National Security Council and CIA, they refused to comment on consent from Pakistan’s side saying that “such information is classified.”
This rationale has caused an uproar among the legal officials, particularly lawyers at the US State Department.
The US administration lawyers, however, believe the CIA's campaign is legal, given that they have a tacit consent from the Pakistani military as it “does not interfere physically with the unpiloted aircraft in flight.”
The WSJ quoted two senior administration officials as describing Pakistan’s silence over the covert drone operation as a “yes.”
Pakistan’s government officials and politicians have, from time to time, spoken against the drone operation in its tribal region. However, the Obama administration maintains that it launches drone strikes in the sovereign country in its effort to purge the region from presence of militants.
Pakistani officials also once considered shooting down a drone in order to express Pakistan’s rejection of the programme, however, the idea was later shelved after it was thought to be “needlessly provocative”.
After the US conducted a clandestine raid on May 2, 2011, the Inter-Services Intelligences (ISI) stopped acknowledging receipts to the US as a notification of a drone strike, which according to an official, was ISI’s way of conveying to the US that “they are upset with them”.
Still for some US officials, the lack correspondence from ISI to the faxes sent was uncomforting, “leaving already-vague communications even more open to interpretation.”
This concern has caused US administration lawyers to deliberate over the drone programme and if any changes can be brought. Some of the drones might be put under the control of the US military, “which would allow officials to talk more openly about how the program works and open the door to closer cooperation with the Pakistanis.”
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@wonderer: Good to know that you are a Pakistani. My advice: Be proud of your nationality and the name given to you by your parents. Our identity makes all the difference. I am also happy to know that you are interested in the welfare of people of Pakistan. If that is what motivates you to write whatever you have written, I am with you. Regarding drone attacks, the simple logic is that as long as people from this side of the border keep on going across to hit the NATO / ISAF forces, and Pakistan demonstrates its inability to stop them, drone attacks will continue. Regarding the question as to why the USA with all that might is unable to defeat Haqqanis, the answer is that they just want to coerce them into a negotiated settlement so that they can use them in the future in pursuance of their 'containment of China' strategy, as they used the Mujahideen in the eighties. As the Russians and Chinese have started to assert, Pakistan is once again gaining relevance. We only have to play our cards well and get rid of planted leadership.
@Tahir Ali:
Thanks for passing on so much of wisdom.
You seem to be curious about my identity; I do not know why. I have no desire to hide it. I am a Pakistani from the village Sukkho in Rawalpindi district. Pakistan is my motherland, and I am interested in the welfare its people.
Does this make any difference?
@wonderer: Not ignorance, but ignoring ignorance is the death of knowledge. History tells us that dynasties fell when they became so strong that their leaders stopped thinking just because they could force their way through. USA is committing the same mistake, where it is today, it can only fall. But then you are a wonderer and do not require to be educated. Keep on wondering till you fall in the abyss. And please use your real name. People with no or fake names have no identity.
Before anyone start to complain remember the bombs are dropped on people who kill children/women and innocent people without any second thought (TTP) Even Taliban leader Mullah Omar has asked TTP to refrain from killing civilians ..... for that matter Osama said the same. Unfortunately in event such as these there is no fine line - who is good or bad - but one has to join hands with lesser evil.
@Tahir Ali:
I have no desire to either get into an argument with you or to get educated by you. Besides, this is not the place for either. I stand by whatever I said.
@wonderer: No gimmicks please, just reply to my question about Haqqanis.
No doubt USA, today, has become a very powerful country and in fact the only super power. But remember that it was Pakistan with whose help USA was able to ensure dismemberment of erstwhile USSR and is now in such an enviable position. Unfortunately, after achieving their objectives in the eighties, USA left us in the lurch to face the consequences. So, USA may be the most powerful country, but unreliable.
In the cold war era, the Indians sucked the Soviet Union and now they are sucking USA. If USA is comfortable with that, no issue but, mark my words, one day USA will again be needing Pakistan, as well as the Taliban, in pursuance of her 'containment of China strategy'.
If you cannot answer my question about the reason of USA's failure to defeat a handful of Haqqanis, ask me. I am willing to educate you but do not just shy away from answering.
@numbersnumbers:
Dear Numbers, Are you suggesting that an unknown foreign submarine, which attacks a US nuclear power station will hang out a sign saying, "it was I" ?
@Sexton Blake: You seem to believe that any country could attack the US and not face massive retaliation. Wow, what a fantasy! You say that "one or two submarines striking US coastline nuclear power stations....."', please add to our knowledge as what would happen to those countries that sent the submarines!
@Sexton Blake: @syed baqar ahsan: @Tahir Ali:
Thanks! I admire both your patriotism and the lack of a sense of humor.
@wonderer: Thank you for your narration. Just one question. With all that might, why the NATO / US forces are unable to defeat approximately 5000 Haqqqanis and begging Pakistan to help in negotiating a deal with them?
@wonderer: you are living in fools paradise and impressed with star movies of hollywood, Tora Bora is a place between Pakistan-Afghan boarder where Americans/NATO has thrown/tested all ammos accept nuclear warheads,go and visit that place mountains are stand still and smiling at dazy cutters and thousands of sorties of all kind of air force nothing has caused any effect.They have no answer to "green over blue" attacks,so do not talk of complete destruction in seconds or minutes wars,please come back to senses.Americans have to go as they have been thrown out of Iraq by vote/ consensus in elected assembly.Remember "inter bleeding seldom stops it causes death or defeat"
@wonderer: "I have 50 years hand on experience"
Dear Wonderer, I have a few more years experience even than you. I am too embarrassed to say how many. I suppose there is a possibility that we are becoming mentally challenged. However, they do say, it is never to late to learn. In your case you are suggesting that Pakistan could become a wasteland due to the technical excellence of US/NATO equipment. Nobody is saying that the US does not have equipment. Unfortunately, much of it is inferior to other countries. For example, the US has experienced considerable difficulty in getting much of it to work efficiently, with the F-35 being a prime example, and the F-22 Raptor also in trouble. Further, several foreign submarines have surfaced in the middle of US naval exercises just off the US coastline. One or two submarines striking US coastline nuclear power stations would give a lot of people a distinct headache at the very least. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, weaponry devices such as EMP's, which render electrical equipment useless are fairly commonplace and America being a high tech country would suffer much more than Pakistan. No electricity, no gasoline, all the little luxuries of life gone. Even the back-up electronic systems in nuclear power stations would not work, and America would finish up making Fukushima, Japan look like a country picnic. You might have noticed that America always attacks low tech. countries and even then cannot seem to win a war. However, I think we should get out of the "if you hit me I will hit you" syndrome. America got out of attacking 37 countries in the last few years, but they have never attacked anybody who could seriously fight back. US/NATO/ZION positively loath Iran, and maintain a threatening stance, but have been keeping at a safe distance for several years now. To sum up, I will not outline all the incredibly destructive equipment developed by Russia, China and several non-aligned countries, but it is considerable. US/NATO/ZION would be well advised to keep their distance. You also might have noticed that Iran routinely lands US RQ-170 super stealth drones, and as a result America no longer sends them over Iran. US stealth technology has been rendered useless.
Regards.
@Sexton Blake:
Cheers!
Many thanks Sir for "spelling it out" for me, but I am sorry, I am not impressed. I have over fifty years of hands-on experience in this matter to guide me.
@wonderer: Let me spell it out carefully for you. The entire Western military has been attempting to defeat a bunch of hillbillies in the Afghan/Pakistan region for nearly 12 years, and are no closer to a conclusion. As a result the only things keeping America going financially are very efficient printing presses. Can you imagine what would happen to the West if they decided to take on Pakistan. Pakistan is one of the largest countries in the world, has a very efficient military and nukes. The main reason for America sending drones over Pakistan is because the Pakistan politicians are allowing them to. Why Pakistan allows it to happen I do not know, but I do know that America will not take Pakistan on in a full scale war. It would take about 500 to 1,000 words to explain why.
@Pro Truth: A thousands likes to your comments.
Drone attacks legitimise 9/11. They share the same logic and ethics.
CIA money controls the PAK forces
@JSM: “After the OBL incident, Gen Kyani had given such orders. Why are these being disobeyed?”
Are all Pakistanis as gullible as you? Those orders were only for the benefit of Pakistani credulous 'soft of ear' minds. General Kayani and President Zardari were in on the whole thing--OBL episode. Still, one stealth helicopter was downed by a ground unit that had not received the orders to stand down. Even the local civilians and neighbors saw the who operation and were shooed off by security personnel, that it was a drug bust, “Stay away, or get shot”.
Consider this: Three helicopters came from Jallabad Afghanistan, flew near to Military and Shamsi Air-Force Base near Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul. US invaders lost one helicopter, got on the two remaining, went back to Jallabad. From there took OBL's remains over 1200miles of PAF's heavily and twenty four year round surveillanced radar covered Pakistani air space in a relatively slow moving Military transport plane to the Arabian Sea where Air-Craft Carrier USS Vincennze was waiting. [Alternative rout is over India, or Iranian air space...what do you think?] When officially informed, General Kayani and President Zardari just turned over in their beds knowingly, while PAF pilots stayed in their scramble ready rooms along those 1200miles, fretting biting their nails at the abomination and obscenity of it..they saw it all on radar and were informed time to time on the progress of their humiliation. And the shame put on their heads...Pakistan's most skilled and courageous warriors—sworn defenders of its honor above their lives!!!
Editor Sahib, Janab does this means that now these drones are no more "SUSPECTED"? if so, that confirms that my leaders of my country knew and they all were feeding us LIES.
For all those who are asking for drones to be destroyed, this is what can happen to Pakistan if it confronts the US/NATO militarily. This gem by a Pakistani in Canada was picked by me from blogosphere. Please read it carefully.
Let me spell it out for Kayani. My dear general, those advising you to go gung ho and forget about consequences, will not be there to light a candle at your grave where you may lie resulting from a pre-mature demise. It will take NATO less than 37 minutes to turn Pakistan into a wasteland and take it back pre-Bactrian era. All this without using a nuclear option. 98.7% of the NATO bombs, missiles and drones will never be detected by Pakistani radars. The Chinese signature readers would be blacked out and the laser guided missiles from the 3- directions will efface the entire military complex in Pakistan in just under 20 minutes. The electrical storm grill would turn all modern elctronics in Pakistan into barbequed silicon within the first 70 seconds of the NATO strike. That would include all land, air and sea electronics holding modules. The sheer noise exceeding 3k deibels would render 2/3rd of the population deaf in less than 12 minutes. More than 5 million KPK and FATA area poeple will be toast inside twenty-five minutes. Most of this will happen even before kayani and his Qadeer Monkey can feed in the silos with launch codes for the nukes.- which in any event would have been renederd useless from the e-pulse radiation storm. Want some more Herr General? I think you have an idea what NATO is capable of doing but you are bent on bringing a toy pistol to the rough poker table hoping nobody else has a live one. Not nice to bluff. The only hope you might cling on to is that the NATO will not want 70 million Pakistanis turn into shami kebabs inside of 60 minutes from git go. Herr General wake up and smell the roses. Lose the Talibanized liabilities. Lose the 600,000 Talibanized Pakistanis and save the 180 million. not a bad deal wouldn't you say? What to speak of those clown from Raiwind. they will be windless, rudderless and motherless if your bluff gets called. Cheers !!
If I say the report of Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is false and not true then I am sure every one who are believing on WSJ have their right to ask the proofs and evidences upon my accusation on WSJ...... Same is the case where WSJ is accusing in the above mentioned report and as per law, it is the onus of accuser to bring fort evidences and proofs of their charge and this is highly required. By the way the WSJ have been defamed several times on various wrong reportings.
I must request all who are believing WSJ report to stop accusing by ask and bringing forward the proofs and avidences against these accustions
The self- serving hypocrisy prevailing in Pindi can at times be mind boggling.
Probably the same fax every month with two "broad locations" - S Waziristan and N Waziristan. Maybe it's just the American's being polite and trying to "dot the I's and cross the T's" rather than a sign that Pakistan supports the drone attacks? Perhaps an enterprising reporter should contact the airlines and ask them if they have been re-routed to facilitate drone attacks -- I suspect their answer will be no.
@Nadir: "We all know that the president forces the Army to stand down! "
Sure and it was the President that forced Lt. Gen Pasha to go and meet an American citizen of known anti-Pakistani credentials and create memogate. It was the President that asked COAS to defy him publicly whenhe wanted o move the ISI under interior minister. Everyone knows that the army does whatit wants - pays no attention to the President in Pakistan. The increase in drones has nothing to be with change in leadershipin Pakistan but rather change in leadership in US.
wonder how pakis put up with this bull crap from their govt. Does ANYONE speak the truth at all ?
Pakistani officials also once considered shooting down a drone in order to express Pakistan’s rejection of the programme, however, the idea was later shelved after it was thought to be “needlessly provocative”.
its like a dad seeing his young son getting beaten up and thinking its too provocative to ask him to stop.
I'm dissapointed. I didn't expect that from the pakistani army. But maybe the army of Pakistan can see if we don't help US, then US neither will help Pakistan. In the other side US is helping India. My father always told me that he loved pakistan in a time, but now he's calling pakistan for corrupt(the whole country). I always feel sorry for those people who are figthing against terrorism and corrupt people. I swear by the name of Allah(subhanahu wa'ta'ala) it's very sad all that is happning in PK. Everything is been destrying. Just look at Iran. There is sanctions on Iran, but Iran's army is very strong. And they know to stand together and now how to improve their interest. In the other hand Iran never listen to others but their own politicians, president, their shia ulema. Pakistan did it very wrong by destroying Taliban/mujaheeden. Musharraf may Allahs purnishment be with him(amin). But also it's a reality that people of pakistan doesn't believe in their army, ISI, and everyone who is a member of Pak-Army. And that is clearly wrong/bad!!! If Pakistan raised then they can help other muslim country. But I have a question Musharraf say in awaam ki adalat when he was asked can pakistani army shoot US drone. He answered yes but if nato/us came with their military then will not be able to defence our self. How can it be possible that Iran has maked drone and there hasn't been any sanction pakistan in the past 11years but they couldn't make a drone? Subhan'allah the pakistani army thinks just because we have atombomb it's mean we are world power! Look at prophet muhammed(P.U.P.H) he never relaxed! ALLAHU AKBAR!!!
" ... Pakistan clears airspace for US to conduct drone strikes: ... "
That is half the story. Pakistan also clears the ground - the targets are alerted.
After the OBL incident, Gen Kyani had given such orders. Why are these being disobeyed?
@Indian Wisdom:
It's pretty logical. If there weren't any strikes, how could there be any protest and it there was no protest Pak is left with no bargain chips at the negotiation table.
Why do Pakistan's competent and capable armed forces not take the drones down? Are they afraid?
By not not shooting down the drones, they are giving tacit permission for drone attacks.
@Polpot: Get a life- your witticisms are tedious and boring and it is becoming increasingly evident that you have an axe to grind with anything Pakistani. Good job with getting other Indian trolls with fake accounts to 'Recommend' your limp one-liners and bad jokes. YAWN......
Pakistan Armed Forces are fearful and coward to go in the terrorist areas. So drones have to do the job. Pakistan Army is busy in real-estate, they don't bother about real state. Good Job guys.
How does Pakistan clear the airspace ? With a broom ?
stop supporting terrorists, drones will be stopped thats what americans want. Pakistan should realistically stop all the extremists activities now as these are not acceptable in teh world
Never seen such Chameleons ruling a country.. Its clear now.. Behind the scenes are very astonishing and indigestible.. It is for sure, responsibility not lies on civilian leadership alone.
Why is anyone surprised at this ? When has the government of Pakistan (irrespective of the political party/dictator in power) done anything for the benefit of Pakistani people ?
PPP should changes its slogan from "roti, kapra aur makaan" to "loot, khasut aur drone".
Just wait until our government gets its hands on drone technology. Opposition politicians will have to go underground.
shame on our government and army. they have no respect in the americans eye. the americans fear the public more than these slave institutions. the army should stand up before the public loose everything for them.
I am sure the Pakistani authorities must have got another "bombing you to the stone-age" threat. They had no other option but to submit to the US desires just like Musharraf had to earlier.
Send in the drones!
In Pakistan it is hard to trust anybody. There isn't a pillar of society in Pakistan that can be trusted. They say something and do something completely different.
Burdon of proof is on US to provide such agreement from Pakistan! However Pakistan ISI and Airforce cant act without authorisation from the Government in place. If Zardari who is commander in chief of Armed forces, publically orders Armed forces to shoot down any drone in Pakistan airspace. This will confirm who is agreed to these illegal and lethal strikes on a sovereign country!
as if pak has any choice....
Continuing drone strikes!! Golly gosh!! Who would have thought it? The dubious, CentCom black comedy continues. How else can we describe the stupidity of this debacle, which is somewhere between a skirmish and WW3. The Americans illegally invaded Afghanistan (Security Council approval does not make it legal). They initially rounded up many thousands of Taliban fighting men, and several thousand prisoners died because they were incarcerated in some type of steel containers subjected to the hot sun. Now for the last eleven years (nearly 12) they have subjected the Afghan fighting men to all kinds of dreadful fighting conditions, constantly bombarded their families with drone missiles, and surprise, surprise they have difficulty wondering why the Taliban, and their buddies will not come to the negotiating table. Obviously, the Taliban have learned their lessons well, and will not trust the Americans to follow due process in even simple things, which includes treating prisoners of war, or negotiators, correctly. The Americans have a bad habit of changing even self-evident rules for reasons known only to themselves and then pretending that the changes are within normal legality. Additionally, the skirmish has cost American taxpayers many trillions of dollars, the US economy is heading South at an alarming speed and many millions of US citizens are doing it tough with no improvement in sight. They have my sympathy as well as the Taliban. To sum up, how the US talks Pakistan into approving drone strikes is beyond comprehension. Obviously, the Americans could sell snowballs to Eskimos. At least the mentally challenged ones. .
Can SC Pakistan dare to ask the army to prove the claim .
I have been telling from day one that all these decisions are still controlled from pindi. No way can US strike drones unless the establishment provides 100% support. Its high time we get these people out and try them in courts for betraying our rights, and selling citizen lives in exchange of toys. These guys have lost all respect.
This is in response to the Zardari's speech at the UN where he mentioned the illegal use of drones. He can fool the jiyalas and other Pakistanis but the americans wont let him get away with it.
@Zamir: There is enough circumstantial proof. Burden is on the Pakistan's Military to PROVE (not claim) them wrong.
From Todays Times of India +++++++++++++++++++++ Afghanistan's Minister of Ports & Shipping was introduced to his Pkaistani Counterpart.
The sharp Pakistani was astounded...but there is no sea in Afghanistan..How can you be....
The Afghan replied: Brother, you too have a Law Minister in Pakistan....
Moral: Nothing in Pakistan is as it seems to be.
OMG,,,,,, When Pakistan Airforce and Army's Gunships will be used ...... There are not to be used as 32
What hypocrisy???? And after clearing the sky for the strike they will say these strikes are illegal........