I wrote this piece before the militants' statement withdrawing or not offering protection to the “Peace March” came.
LAHORE: This is to clarify a couple of things regarding my article “Game of Drones:” (October 7). I wrote this piece before the statement of the militants withdrawing or not offering protection to the “Peace March” came, which they had by the time my article went into print. In any event, I extend my sincere apologies for this inadvertent factual error and any offence it may have caused.
I strongly object to the assertions that I equated the peace-loving majority of the tribal areas with the militants or justified drone attacks; I did no such thing. I believe that the brave Pakistani citizens of Waziristan are the primary innocent victims of terrorism and also of drone attacks and are to be supported and lauded for that. Aside from that, I stand by my words and criticism of the “Peace March” and Imran Khan’s political strategy in this particular case.
Saroop Ijaz
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2012.
