Ethical ligitimacy of Drone attacks
By Zar Ali Khan Musazai
The United States wants to continue drone strikes inside Pakistan’s tribal areas because US military experts believe the strikes have killed a large number of Al Qaeda leaders and local militants and have destroyed their hideouts
A US account of the strikes, conveyed to Pakistan, and obtained by DAWN depicts a picture which is very different from the public perception in Pakistan that the strikes only kill innocent civilians and children
The document identifies militant leaders as HVT or high value targets.
According to this document, on Dec 3, 2007, a Predator strike injured Shaykh Issa al-Masri in Jani Khel, Bannu.
On Jan 28, 2008, a Predator killed HVT Abu Layth Al-Libi and associates in Salam Kot, North Waziristan.
On Feb 27, 2008, a drone killed foreign Al Qaeda trainees. On March 16, 2008, more Al Qaeda trainees were killed. The document does not identify those killed in these attacks and does not reveal the places hit by the drones.
On May 14, 2008, a Predator killed HVT Abu Sulayman Al-Jazairi and associates in Damadola, Bajaur.
On July 28, 2008, a Predator strike killed HVT Abu Khabab Al-Masri and other Al Qaeda activists.
On Aug 12, 2008, a Predator killed foreign fighters and militants associated with HVT Usama Al-Kini and commander Nazir.
On Aug 20, 2008, a drone killed and injured multiple foreign Al Qaeda members and local associates, including some Haqqani network associates. An Al Qaeda facilitator Haji Yacoub was injured.
On Aug 27, 2008, a Predator attempted to target an Al Qaeda-associated meeting but missed target. It did not cause collateral damage.
On Aug 30, 2008, a Predator strike killed Al Qaeda paramilitary operatives subordinate to Al Qaeda commander and East Africa Embassy bomber Usama Al Kini.On Aug 31, 2008, a Predator killed several Al Qaeda operatives, including two prominent Al Qaeda paramilitary commanders.
On Sept 2, 2008, a Predator killed four to 10 persons associated with Al Qaeda commander and logistician Abu Wafa Al Saudi.
On Sept 4, 2008, a Predator strike killed Abu Wafa Al Saudi.
On Sept 8, 2008, a Predator killed several Haqqani sub-commanders and a number of Arabs. Members of the extended Haqqani family were killed.
On Sept 11, 2008, a Predator killed 10 to 15 militants associated with Al Qaeda facilitator Qari Imran’s training camp.
On Sept 17, 2008, a Predator killed 4-6 militants delivering rockets to a militant camp near the Afghan border and probably HVT Abu Ubaydh Al Tunisi.
Now one will understand that the Drones are more useful because the drones hit the real targets and there are few or no casualties of the civilians like Pakistani indiscriminate bombardment which is alleged to hit the innocent and leave the real culprits or terrorists.
After 2001, all the guests of Pakistani intelligence Agency ISI were brought to the FATA especially Waziristan and an Islamic emirate was founded for them there from where the militants had to keep continued the subversive activities in Afghanistan. When the guests of Pakistani establishment started destructive activities in Afghanistan where the peace, democracy and development were in danger, the allied forces soldiers along with Afghan soldiers were killed, the Americans and allied had no other option except Drone attacks. If Pakistan is averse to these drone attacks then it will have to give surety to allied forces in Afghanistan that Pakistani security forces would eliminate terrorists from FATA but it is clear like sun that the Pakistani forces have completely failed to either nab terrorists or eliminate them for last more than 7 years. Several people in FATA were interviewed about drone attacks said that they were the real treatment and this action has turned the militants very confused and now they have no way out to run.. United States gave more than 1400 billion$ to Pakistan to eliminate terrorists but it badly failed and instead the terrorism increased many times. Swat and other districts of Pashtunkhwa Province were included in promotion of terrorism and the real objective was to divert the attention of international community from the real situations and Islamic Emirate of militants in Waziristan and FATA.
Those who oppose the drone strikes are included religious political parties which have good relationship and understanding with military and ISI. Both are considered same because both have same aim and objective. As for as Pashtun population and Political people are concerned, they term drone attacks very useful to eliminate terrorist from FATA. People in FATA and other restive districts have been so terrified that today people are afraid to open the mouth and speak the truth because the ruthlessness and barbarism have crossed all limits.
(The writer is a political and social worker and can be reached on his email
[email protected], [email protected] - 
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