Post Reply 
 
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
US gives Pakistan ‘control’ over drone strikes
05-14-2009, 07:29 AM
Post: #1
US gives Pakistan ‘control’ over drone strikes
* Drones will be allowed under direction of Pakistani military officials working with American counterparts in Jalalabad

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: The US military has begun flying Predator drones in Pakistan and given Pakistani officers significant control over targets, flight routes and decisions to launch attacks, US officials say.

The officials say the project has been started recently to bolster Pakistan’s ability and willingness to disrupt the militant groups active in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For the US military, the missions represent a broad new role – searching for militants in Pakistan. For years, that task was the domain of the CIA.

Under the new partnership, US military drones will be allowed under the direction of Pakistani military officials, working with American counterparts at a command centre in Jalalabad.

US officials say the programme is aimed at getting Pakistan “more directly and deeply engaged” in the Predator programme.

“This is about building trust,” said a senior US military official. “This is about giving them capabilities they do not ... have to help them defeat this ... extreme element ... in their country.”

Pakistanis, however, have yet to use the drones to shoot at suspected militants.

US officials acknowledge that the initiative carries serious risks. Pakistan, they said, was struggling to balance a desire for more control over the drones with a reluctance to become ‘complicit’ in strikes on its “own people”.

During his visit to Washington last week, President Asif Zardari had reiterated the request for a fleet of Predators. US officials have all but ruled that out, describing the jointly operated flights as an effective compromise.

While the CIA drones continue to focus on Al Qaeda, the military drones are intended to disrupt militant networks deeper into Pakistan.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_1
Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread: Author Replies: Views: Last Post
  LDA Announces New SOPs for Building Control in Accordance With Lahore Master Plan LRE-Azan 0 671 09-13-2023 07:35 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  Commercialisation: LDA to assume control of buildings on 147 roads Salman 0 5,017 03-20-2014 02:54 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Sindh Building Control Authority Cautions People About Ocean Tower Salman 0 5,075 02-28-2014 01:40 PM
Last Post: Salman
  LDA’s Computer Services Control Handed Over To Project Manager Salman 0 4,111 01-15-2014 05:15 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Development Authorities To Get Control Over Housing Department Schemes Salman 0 10,726 09-20-2013 05:36 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Building Control Authority Punjab cabinet ‘approves’ bill despite flaws Salman 0 5,897 11-02-2012 04:52 PM
Last Post: Salman
  LDA takes control of illegal housing schemes Salman 0 5,681 10-20-2012 01:05 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Building Control Authority: Not many takers for Punjab govt’s divisional setup Salman 0 5,111 10-10-2012 11:40 AM
Last Post: Salman
  300 acres of industrial land in Hyderabad still in mafia’s control, Salman 0 4,595 01-20-2012 12:24 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Plea to control circulation of obscene literature on Internet Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,622 06-18-2011 12:25 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  China to take control of Gwadar Port LRE 2 8,467 05-25-2011 11:39 PM
Last Post: LRE
  US criticised in Pakistan drone report Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,592 12-10-2010 01:30 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Govt fails to control sugar prices Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,819 10-13-2010 01:07 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Pakistan to consider other options if NATO strikes again: Gilani Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,836 10-02-2010 01:30 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  'US refuses to transfer drone tech to Pakistan' Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,706 05-13-2010 12:56 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  SC strikes down PM’s order promoting 54 bureaucrats Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,344 04-28-2010 12:46 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Pakistan to get US drone technology soon: Qureshi Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,733 03-29-2010 02:01 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  US offers legal justification for drone strikes for the first time Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,542 03-27-2010 11:57 AM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Businessmen urge SBP to control inflation Naveed Yaseen 0 3,202 11-19-2009 08:33 AM
Last Post: Naveed Yaseen
  How to control your anger Naveed Yaseen 0 2,870 11-05-2009 10:44 AM
Last Post: Naveed Yaseen

Forum Jump:


User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)