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As polls after polls show, an over whelming majority of Pakistanis are concerned about the country's sovereign territory being attacked by USA drones, which than kill mainly innocent civilians...a total of 350 drones have been fired from, and into Pakistani territory since 2004....killing several thousand civilians, and the daily threat of drone attacks in the FATA area.
This is a national tragedy, which is very visible, and a national disgrace.....matter of Izzat.
However for the Punjab military killing a few thousand Pashtun civilians is worth the price of bring in FATA, logistically, infrastructural wise, which brings the area closer to Pakistan, via quick impact projects and subjugation, psychological pressure, displacement of the people in that area.
The issue is not merely about persuading the Americans to cease droning Pakistani territory....they've been doing it for 9 years, but that first the new government must identify which elements of the Punjab military are facilitating the drone attacks. Once that is done, persuading the Punjab military not to cooperate with USA drone strikes into sovereign Pakistani territory....this is a convoluted, shady grey area of covert ops, and plausible denialibility.
Mere making speeches by the PM in English telling the Americans to stop is not enough. After all that is precisely what Zardari bhen did, whilst quietly encouraging the Americans to do so.
The PM in consultation with the PTI, and PPP needs to take firm concrete steps against future drone attacks into sovereign Pakistani territory.....this will take a while. The Americans have had jolly good fun killing their own created imaginary monsters, the Taliban and 'al-CIA-duh'....in a few cases, and in other cases mostly innocent civilians 95%.
One also hopes this one issue does not take up ALL his time, and the PM should embark on some early feel good, confidence boosting policy initiatives with India and China. With India an overdue FTA, and LoC recognition as an International Border. With China greater economic ties, and Chinese military bases in Gwadar, FATA....with the Chinese navy present in Gwadar with warships, and the Chinese airforce and army in FATA....20--30,000 personnel. The bases should be offered for 5 year term. With Iran many other policy initiatives can be implemented as mentioned by me previously as ancillary projects to the Peace pipeline.
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Sharif: US Must Take Pakistan’s Opposition to Drones Seriously
Drones 'Challenge' Pakistan's Sovereignty
by Jason Ditz at antiwar.comFresh off a decisive victory in this weekend’s election, Pakistan’s incoming leader Nawaz Sharif has quickly set the stage for a battle with the US over ongoing drone strikes against the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
“This is a very important issue and our concern must be understood properly,” Sharif said, warning that the drone strikes are a “challenge to our sovereignty” and one that Pakistan was not going to simply sit by and ignore.
Sharif campaigned on a promise to end the strikes, saying he would “reconsider” relations with the US if they did not stop launching such strikes. Between his clear victory and the ruling by Pakistan’s high court last week that the strikes are a violation of international law, there is much momentum behind ending them.
Sharif is moving quickly to form his new government, announcing his intention to make Ishaq Dar his finance minister. Counting still isn’t over in the election, so it still isn’t clear how much of a majority he’ll end up with.
