ravage
March 9, 2011, 8:44pm
10
Re: Pakistan Army comes out to bat for drones
If it was happening, it would have been openly declared by now. The Pakistani military has no issue with collateral damage from its own anti-terrorist operations, as you can tell from the employment of imprecise heavy artillery during FATA operations (pro-government tribes already act against militants in their midst; only anti-goverment traitorous tribes continue to shelter them).
If Pakistani operators were controlling the drones, it would have been easier for both Pakistan and the US to come out and declare that the drone strikes were a sovereign operation by Pakistan.
The fact that no such statement has been made, and in fact that Pakistan continues to suggest that the US should share drone technology, suggests that this is not the case.
The main reason I can think of is some articles that I read a while back (no link available) suggesting that the US does not want to rely on Pakistan for attacks, because the US on occasion seeks to attack militants that the Pakistan army views as potential assets. There were allegedly some incidents where information on upcoming strikes was shared and the targetted individuals were tipped off and escaped.
Of course, even such cases are a violation of sovereignty, as it means Pakistan’s own internal domestic militant management strategy is upset.
Good points Maddie. What do you think the fact that the Army has come out in quasi-support of drone strikes means? I think it has to do with some negotiation of positions from the meeting in Oman, and such an arrangement might be being made.