Drone ‘em all
Don’t criticise drone strikes unless you have a better way to target terrorists who hide amongst civilians.
The writer has a master’s degree in Security and Intelligence Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He works on the Peshawar desk of The Express Tribune
It was a sad day for this country when the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone strike in North Waziristan. It was sad because the news gave rise to mixed reactions, with news anchors and top politicians debating on whether this was a good thing or not.
At the end, some concluded that this was a US plot to disrupt potential peace talks with the TTP. Regardless of the timing of the strike, eliminating Hakimullah should have been welcomed, considering that he was an enemy of the state. Unmanned aerial systems have proven by far to be the best tool against terrorists hiding in very hostile environments and precision strikes must be employed.
If Pakistan was really so concerned about drone strikes and their counterproductiveness, authorities should have investigated every strike that has taken place since 2004. At least, we would have had more reliable numbers and details on who was getting killed and the exact number of terrorists being eliminated. But instead, all there’s been are hollow public outrage and demonstrations against the strikes, mostly for domestic political consumption. The recent disclosures by the Washington Post show that contrary to popular belief, the state had at times fully endorsed drone strikes. Which is fine, since they keep terrorists constantly on the move and reduce their ability to plan and execute spectacular attacks.
Opposition to drone strikes has created this false public discourse of such strikes causing ‘excessive’ civilians deaths. Yes, civilians have been killed, but there has been no investigation since 2004 of how many. Even the Amnesty International (AI) report on drone strikes in Pakistan titled “Will I be next?” explicitly pointed out that AI “does not have comprehensive data on the total number of US drone strikes … and is in no position to endorse the findings of others”.
Discrediting the use of drones, which is an exceptionally precise counterterrorism tool, based on incomplete information is of itself a hollow premise to discount them.
Because of drones, al Qaeda’s core has been diminished and the TTP’s cadres are left to attack soft targets, mostly civilians and inept state institutions like the police and prisons.
We are losing this war. Terrorists have found enough space to influence the mainstream narrative of society and have convinced the state that they are a force to be reckoned with. On whose authority is the TTP negotiating peace?
It was horrid to see an ‘analyst’ and a former foreign minister in a TV talk show pleading with the TTP to, at least, spare us during Muharram. It made it sound as if it’s okay to kill innocents during the rest of the year.
While I symapthise with Manama Bibi and other civilians killed in drone strikes as highlighted by AI, a few interviews from a few civilians doesn’t justify gross generalisations.
Counterterrorism is a messy business. To terrorists, we’re all targets and they have killed thousands of Pakistanis in cold blood. Don’t criticise drone strikes unless you have a better way to target terrorists who hide amongst civilians in the first place. These terrorists kill civilians with malicious intent; drones kill civilians by tragic chance.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2013.
At the end, some concluded that this was a US plot to disrupt potential peace talks with the TTP. Regardless of the timing of the strike, eliminating Hakimullah should have been welcomed, considering that he was an enemy of the state. Unmanned aerial systems have proven by far to be the best tool against terrorists hiding in very hostile environments and precision strikes must be employed.
If Pakistan was really so concerned about drone strikes and their counterproductiveness, authorities should have investigated every strike that has taken place since 2004. At least, we would have had more reliable numbers and details on who was getting killed and the exact number of terrorists being eliminated. But instead, all there’s been are hollow public outrage and demonstrations against the strikes, mostly for domestic political consumption. The recent disclosures by the Washington Post show that contrary to popular belief, the state had at times fully endorsed drone strikes. Which is fine, since they keep terrorists constantly on the move and reduce their ability to plan and execute spectacular attacks.
Opposition to drone strikes has created this false public discourse of such strikes causing ‘excessive’ civilians deaths. Yes, civilians have been killed, but there has been no investigation since 2004 of how many. Even the Amnesty International (AI) report on drone strikes in Pakistan titled “Will I be next?” explicitly pointed out that AI “does not have comprehensive data on the total number of US drone strikes … and is in no position to endorse the findings of others”.
Discrediting the use of drones, which is an exceptionally precise counterterrorism tool, based on incomplete information is of itself a hollow premise to discount them.
Because of drones, al Qaeda’s core has been diminished and the TTP’s cadres are left to attack soft targets, mostly civilians and inept state institutions like the police and prisons.
We are losing this war. Terrorists have found enough space to influence the mainstream narrative of society and have convinced the state that they are a force to be reckoned with. On whose authority is the TTP negotiating peace?
It was horrid to see an ‘analyst’ and a former foreign minister in a TV talk show pleading with the TTP to, at least, spare us during Muharram. It made it sound as if it’s okay to kill innocents during the rest of the year.
While I symapthise with Manama Bibi and other civilians killed in drone strikes as highlighted by AI, a few interviews from a few civilians doesn’t justify gross generalisations.
Counterterrorism is a messy business. To terrorists, we’re all targets and they have killed thousands of Pakistanis in cold blood. Don’t criticise drone strikes unless you have a better way to target terrorists who hide amongst civilians in the first place. These terrorists kill civilians with malicious intent; drones kill civilians by tragic chance.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2013.