Nod-and-wink approach to drones demeaning: Pakistani daily
May 21st, 2011 - 12:59 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, May 21 (IANS) The nod-and-wink approach to drone strikes is “demeaning and self-defeating”, said a Pakistani daily after US cables accessed by WikiLeaks revealed that army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had supported the drone attacks.
An editorial in the The News International Saturday said that publicly, the army and the government have always condemned drone attacks as a violation of Pakistan’s airspace and sovereignty.
“But now, secret internal US government cables reveal that Pakistan’s top military brass supports US drone strikes in Pakistan, despite public posturing to the contrary.”
US cables showed that way back in January 2008, the country’s military was asking the US for greater drone back-up for its military efforts.
In a meeting Jan 22, 2008 with top US military official Admiral William J. Fallon, Gen Kayani asked Washington to provide “continuous Predator coverage of the conflict area” in South Waziristan.
The editorial said that when a drone attack killed 40 in the North Waziristan Agency, Gen Kayani “came out in a manner uncharacteristic of him and strongly condemned the attack, calling it ’senseless,’ ‘careless’ and ‘callous’.”
It went on to say that the most important element in “all these contradictory, not to mention confusing, statements point to is a lack of clarity on Pakistan’s drone policy, and the implications of the continuing ambiguity”.
“…military and political leaders should publicly change their stated position, openly seek greater cooperation with US forces to yield success in the long term, and move on.
“On the other hand, if the army and government really are against the strikes and think they do more harm than good, then they should stop bemoaning them in public and supporting them in private.”
It bluntly said that “the nod-and-wink approach to drone strikes is demeaning and self-defeating”.
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- Pakistan lodges strong protest with US over Angoor Adda drone attack - Apr 14, 2011
- US to supply 85 drones to Pakistan - Apr 22, 2011
- Tattered US, Pak ties move into 'stalemate' over drone attacks, counter-terrorism issues - Apr 23, 2011
- Building mutual trust key to defeating terror: Zardari - Apr 27, 2012
- US resumes drone attacks in Pakistan - Jan 12, 2012
- Kayani's decision to oppose NW military operation 'example of patriotism': Saifullah - Jan 04, 2011
- Pak Punjab Assembly passes resolution against drone attacks - Mar 18, 2011
- Drone attack a violation of sovereignty: Pakistan - Jan 13, 2012
- Pak demands US' apology and explanation over drone attacks in Waziristan - Mar 18, 2011
- Notre Dame varsity academic says US drone strikes illegal - Oct 22, 2010
Tags: admiral william, airspace, ambiguity, army chief, ashfaq, confusing statements, drone, drones, fallon, islamabad, kayani, military brass, military efforts, news international, nod, north waziristan agency, parvez, political leaders, south waziristan, wink