Ever since the Raymond Davis debacle, the intelligence agencies of both Pakistan and the US — ISI and CIA — have been at loggerheads over just how to cooperate with each other when both are obviously in conflict over how anti-militant and counter-terrorism activities should be carried out in the country. According to recent reports, Leon Panetta, the CIA Director, has said that the US has no plans to cut down on its operations against the militants within Pakistan’s borders and that his first and foremost priority was ensuring the US’s safety, no matter what the objections. And of objections, there have been plenty. However, somewhat conflicting to Panetta’s statement are recent confirmations by the US on being ready to discuss the element of drone strikes in Pakistan. Whatever the scenario, the fact remains that lately the drone attacks have been getting some very negative press. Ever since the attack on the jirga that killed some 50 people in Datta Khel immediately after the release of Raymond Davis, there has been the kind of mass hysteria, hardly ever witnessed before, concerning the drone strikes. That the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani voiced, for the first time, apprehension and intolerance for the drones, almost every key public figure has claimed the same — the latest among the haters being Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ameer Haider Hoti. It is almost like popular demand now for the drone strikes to end. At such a juncture, the most important question to ask is: are the drone strikes effective or not? There are many who say they are precise, accurate and kill more militants than civilians, while there are others who say that more civilians are killed as collateral damage. All the facts and figures need to be laid out on the table before any dismissal or allowance is vouched for. We are in the midst of a terror war and we must not demand the end of drones if they are effective militant killing machines. Although highly unlikely, given the mistrust that the Americans have for the Pakistani establishment, if they concede under pressure and end the drone attacks, it is up to the Pakistan Army to take over the reigns in countering the terrorists. The army will be under even more immense pressure by the Americans and will need to step up their game. The real question then is: will they? *