The recent revelation by the Wall Street Journal about Pakistan’s tacit consent to the CIA regarding drone attacks being conducted in the Waziristan area has taken most circles with surprise. The journal has reported that CIA officials send fax messages to Pakistan’s intelligence personnel and inform them about the areas they are going to target in future. However the Pakistani authorities do not respond and this is taken as affirmative consent by the Americans.

The drone attacks have cost Pakistan the lives of thousands of innocent citizens mostly civilians. The destruction has caused hundreds to displace and seek shelter elsewhere. This has continued to breed not only anti American sentiment amongst the people of the targeted areas of Waziristan, but has also caused an alarming growth in anti establishment sentiment as well. . The air strikes carried out by the US create trauma and suffering for men, women and children living in the areas. A study on these attacks carried out by New York University/ Stanford University highlights an important aspect. It argues that the success rate of these strikes is considerably low. Furthermore it is instigating anti American sentiment among the youth leading to a rise in support of militancy. The Committee appreciates this study carried out by New York and Stanford University for showing solidarity with the people of Pakistan on this issue. Micah Zenko of the Council of Foreign Relations in the US also expresses skepticism about the US policy in this regard. He emphasizes the contrast between the massive amounts of collateral damage caused and the substantially trivial results achieved. His insights on the subject of drone attacks are considerably thorough and can provide a good direction to US foreign policy over this issue. The Committee on Defence also included Zenko’s excellent article on drones in the first report that it published in June/July 2012.

The Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production therefore expresses immense condemnation of these attacks. The Americans support these attacks under the argument that they have achieved some results as leaders of militant groups have been forced to disperse and so their hold has considerably decreased. However the US authorities and CIA need to realize that the entire country is bearing a heavy cost for this activity. The war against terrorism needs to be Pakistan’s war if it needs legitimacy among the people. Through the use of drones, it becomes a foreign war which is being carried on at the expense of the Pakistani people.  

The Defence of our country and its people is our foremost duty and the residents of these areas are the people of Pakistan and it is essential to protect their life and property. Most significantly, the use of Pakistani airspace by US authorities is an infringement of Pakistan’s sovereignty which we will not tolerate at any cost.