Daily Times

A loud air conditioner droning in the room catches attention and irritates initially but with the passage of time, it becomes a part of the background of the room. Unfortunately, drone strikes in Waziristan have assumed the same status in Pakistan. After an initial bout of disgust and protests, they have become another daily event that rarely makes headlines in newspapers and in the heads of people living far and wide of the taboo territory of Waziristan. Drones are supposedly the great invention in target killing of unwanted people. It is a convenient and safe invention for those who want to kill without any reciprocal consequences. Another supposed quality of drones are their ability of numerical precision in hunting and blowing apart wanted men. However, this very ability to make it so free of damage to the drone users is what has made its use turn into abuse as it encourages adventure beyond responsible limits.

While the world has started realising the horror of these strikes, the Pakistan government has expressed its inability to stop them beyond voicing a few statements to parry criticism; but no action has been taken to minimise their increasing invasion, neither on our territory nor on helping the people of those areas have a counter-strategy for saving innocent lives. The recent report published by the Stanford University is damning evidence of the fact that this strategy is counter-productive in eliminating terrorism and a violation of many conventions and human rights laws. The report reveals some completely inhuman aspects of these strikes that are not condonable at any cost. The methodology of these strikes makes it impossible for these strikes not to cause civilian casualties, disproving the claim that drones are precise and only harm targeted militants. The sad spectacle of double tapping methodology of these drones ensures civilian deaths, and virtually no support to the injured and the dead. The drones do multiple hitting in quick succession and the people who either come to the scene to help or collect the remains of the injured become victims of this heartless machine, unmanned and unfeeling, destroying humans with reckless precision.

The socio-economic impact of these hits is trauma and anxiety to the level of psychological scarring that mars the equanimity of children and elders living in constant fear of the droning voice of these machines, making them always on the edge and jumpy at any similar noise around. Add to this state of mind the fact that education and health are almost non-existent and financial stability is unheard of. With such an atmosphere prevailing in the area, it becomes an ideal breeding ground for those who want to fuel hatred against the US and the desire to hit out at those helping the US. The Pakistan government’s admission that the war on terror has cost it $ 68 billion dollars and a loss of lives beyond 35,000 people is a fact that itself tells the story of the futility of continuing the same strategy with the same damaging effect.

This, of course, raises the question why has the US persisted with this strategy despite its failure to lessen terrorism at all. The answer to this question may be uncomfortable for some but very natural for some and that is that it is business for the Americans. As with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the original objectives were hardly achieved, and later, we discovered that arms sales was one way the US economy wanted to keep its dwindling defence industry alive. Obama, desperate to show economic stimulus, had been pushing arms sales to Saudi Arabia and India, aside from creating demand by nurturing two wars. Obama’s record of being the anti-war president has been proved false when one sees his record of being an active arms salesman around the world. Similarly, drone attacks have multiplied under his rule. Under George Bush, there were 52 drone attacks on Pakistan while under Obama they have jumped to 282.

Drones is now big business for the Americans. The global market for drones is predicted to grow to $ 94 billion in the next decade. The Stanford University report reveals that at least 76 countries have acquired UAVs including China, Pakistan, Russia, and India, adding that China alone has 25 types of systems currently in development whereas Iran, whose arsenal includes the ‘Ambassador of Death’, is developing a drone with a range of more than 600 miles. With all research and development in US and other western countries directed towards building this technology, it is but natural that it does not serve American interests to bother about the limp announcements and requests made by the Pakistan government to stop this violation of national sovereignty.

With some facts known and many facts still unknown about Waziristan, it is still an area that needs to be removed from the no-go zone list. The image of Waziristan has become the image of Pakistan. The mention of Waziristan brings images of wild and insane terrorists roaming freely, thirsty for bloodshed; and for many foreigners the image they carry of the country is very similar. Thus if we need to change the perception of the country, we must change the perception of Waziristan. Drones and military operations have failed to restore order in the region and thus the need for a different strategy. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s initiative to go to the area with foreign and local media and people is being portrayed as a futile and purposeless venture mostly by the government and other parties. However, the purpose is clear and that is peace in Pakistan will never be completely restored if peace in Waziristan does not take place. The economic and human loss of treating the area as untouchable is unsustainable. By going into that territory, the principle of inclusion and integration will come into play. All great analysts and writers have admitted that exclusion and force are never long-term solutions to problems of inequity and deprivation. When we all agree that FATA is an area where poverty, illiteracy and unemployment have created this vicious cycle of rebellion and destruction, we also need to address it not just by giving false statements thousands of miles away but by going there, listening to them and making them feel a part of the human world, where we all want to reside in peace and prosperity.

The writer is a leadership coach, columnist and an ex Info Secretary of PTI Punjab and can be reached at andleeb.abbas1@gmail.com