Sir: It is now official that the US drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas have mostly had the Pakistani establishment’s tactical blessings. Why are so many anti-drone voices being raised in Pakistan? One will find only the right-wing religio-political parties and their media organs echoing the demand to stop the drone strikes. One will never find them asking the Pakistan army and air force to stop the operation in the tribal areas. Drones are the only weapons feared by terrorists as they cause maximum damage to the militants while the other side is unscathed. Let us stop playing a hypocritical role. Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries in the region are fighting a war against terrorism, which must be won. Therefore, this is not the time to divide ourselves but to become united against a wicked enemy who feels no shame in sending suicide bombers to blow men, women and children up in malls, markets, bus stops, mosques, churches and shrines.
Pakistan’s official stand that the drones are violating its sovereignty makes no sense. When Pakistan cannot secure its own borders, then why does it get upset if its aerial space is violated to target the terrorists? Yes, there were some civilian casualties during the drone strikes but that is a sacrifice that the tribal people have had to make. The tribes will eventually fight back to throw out Pakistani and foreign Taliban fighters operating from their areas; if that is not possible and if the Pakistan army cannot secure its own territory, then drone strikes are the only thing that instil fear. Let us be realistic and not get blackmailed by the right-wing parties who are using drone strikes to score political mileage. It is time to expose the hypocrisy of the parties that oppose drone strikes but talk of peace with the Taliban and then fail to mention those 50,000 Pakistanis killed by the Taliban in the last one decade.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail,
Saudi Arabia