Drone attacks in Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Drone attacks in Pakistan | |||||||
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Part of the War on Terrorism, War in North-West Pakistan | |||||||
![]() MQ-1L Predator UAV armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles |
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
9 (CIA & other intel agents) | +1,200 killed[1] |
The United States government, led by the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division, has made a series of attacks on targets in Pakistan since 2004 using drones (unmanned aerial vehicles).[2] Under the George W. Bush administration, these controversial attacks were called a part of the US' "War on Terrorism" and sought to defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants who were thought to have found a safe haven in Pakistan.[2] Most of these attacks are on targets in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Northwest Pakistan. These strikes are mostly carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated remotely from Creech Air Force Base and have continued under the Presidency of Barack Obama.[3][4] Generally the UAVs used are MQ-1 Predator and more recently MQ-9 Reaper firing AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. The drones have become a weapon of choice for the United States in the fight against al-Qaeda.[5] Some media refer to the series of attacks as a "drone war".[6][7] Pakistan's government publicly condemns these attacks but has secretly shared intelligence with Americans[8] and also allowed the drones to operate from Shamsi airfield in Pakistan.[9].
Contents |
Timeline
2004 - 2007
- June 18, 2004: 5 including Nek Muhammad Wazir killed in a strike near Wana, South Waziristan.[10]
- May 14, 2005: Haitham al-Yemeni killed in a strike near the Afghan border in North Waziristan.
- November 30, 2005: Al-Qaeda number 3 Abu Hamza Rabia killed in an attack by CIA drones in Asoray, near Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan.[11]
- January 13, 2006: Damadola airstrike kills 18 in Bajaur but misses Ayman al-Zawahri.
- April 26, 2007: 4 killed in the village of Saidgi in North Waziristan[12]
- June 19, 2007: 20 killed in the village of Mami Rogha in North Waziristan[13]
- November 2, 2007: 5 killed in an attack on a madrasah in North Waziristan[14]
2008
- January 29, 2008: Abu Laith al-Libi killed in a strike in North Waziristan[15][16]
- February 27, 2008: 12 people killed in a strike near Kalosha village in South Waziristan.[17]
- March 18, 2008: 16 killed in a strike in South Waziristan[18]
- May 14, 2008: 12 including Abu Sulayman Al-Jazairi killed near village of Damadola, Bajaur.[19][20]
- July 28, 2008: Midhat Mursi and 5 other Al-Qaeda operatives killed in South Waziristan.[16]
- August 30, 2008: Missile strike on Al-Qaeda training camp in South Waziristan kills two militants carrying Canadian passports.[21]
- September 8, 2008: 23 killed in Daande Darpkhel airstrike, near Miranshah, North Waziristan.
- September 12, 2008: 12 killed in Miranshah airstrike.
- September 30, 2008: 6 killed in a strike near Mir Ali, North Waziristan.[22]
- October 16, 2008: Senior Al-Qaeda leader Khalid Habib killed in a strike near Taparghai, South Waziristan, along with five other Al Qaeda or Taliban members.[23][24]
- October 22, 2008: 4 killed in a village near Miranshah by missiles fired from suspected US drone.[25]
- October 26, 2008: 20 killed in a strike in South Waziristan.[26]
- October 31, 2008: 20 killed including Al-Qaeda operative Abu Akash and Mohammad Hasan Khalil al-Hakim (alias Abu Jihad al-Masri) after 4 missiles hit Waziristan.[16][27]
- November 14, 2008: 12 killed in a strike near Miranshah.[28]
- November 19, 2008: Abdullah Azam al-Saudi killed in Bannu district.[16]
- November 22, 2008: British Al-Qaeda operative Rashid Rauf and 4 others including Abu Zubair al-Masri killed in a strike in North Waziristan.[16][29]
- December 22, 2008: At least 8 killed in South Waziristan by suspected US drone strike.[30]
2009
As per a study collating all strike data in 2009, the casualties up to July 18, 2009 surpassed the hits over all of 2008. The strikes also became much more lethal with an increase in average kills per strike. The strikes were also found to be concentrated in Waziristan.[31] According to separate statistics provided by Pakistani authorities, US drones were behind 44 missile attacks on Pakistani soil in 2009. Of those 44, only five successfully hit their intended targets while 708 people died in all attacks combined. Over 90 percent of the deaths were determined to be civilian.[32]
- January 1, 2009: 2 senior al-Qaeda leaders Usama al-Kini and Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan killed in a missile strike by U.S. drones.[16][33]
- January 23, 2009: In the first attacks since Barack Obama became U.S. president, at least 14 killed in Waziristan in 2 separate attacks by 5 missiles fired from drones.[34]
- February 14, 2009: More than 30 killed when two missiles are launched by drones near town of Makeen in South Waziristan.[35]
- February 16, 2009: Strike in Kurram Valley kills 30, reportedly at a Taliban training camp for fighters preparing to combat coalition forces in Afghanistan.[21][36]
- March 1, 2009: Strike in Sararogha village in South Waziristan kills 7 people.[37]
- March 7, 2009: Taliban militants shot down one of the two UAVs over a village in South Waziristan.[38]
- March 12, 2009: 24 killed in attack in Berju in Kurram Agency.[39]
- March 15, 2009 4 killed in Jani Khel in Bannu district in North-West Frontier Province.[40]
- March 25, 2009: 7 killed in attacks on 2 vehicles by two missiles in Makin area of South Waziristan at 6:30pm.[41]
- March 26, 2009: 4 killed in Essokhel area in North Waziristan.[42]
- April 1, 2009: 14 killed in Orakzai Agency tribal area.[43][44]
- April 4, 2009: 13 killed in North Waziristan.[45]
- April 8, 2009: 4 killed in attack on a vehicle in Gangi Khel in South Waziristan.[46]
- April 19, 2009: At least 3 killed and 5 injured in an attack in South Waziristan[47]
- April 29, 2009: US drone strike in Kanni Garam village in South Waziristan kills 6 people.[48]
- May 9, 2009: US drone strike in Sararogha in South Waziristan kills 6 people.[49]
- May 12, 2009: US drone strike in Sra Khawra village in South Waziristan kills 8 people.[50]
- May 16, 2009: US drone strike in village of Sarkai Naki in North Waziristan kills 25 people.[51]
- June 14, 2009: US drone strike on a vehicle in South Waziristan kills 5 people.[52]
- June 18, 2009: US drone strike in Shahalam village in South Waziristan kills 5 people.[53]
- June 23, 2009: US drone strike in Neej Narai in South Waziristan kills at least 8 people.[54][55]
- June 23, 2009: Makeen airstrike kills at least 80 but misses Baitullah Mehsud in the town of Makeen, many of which were attending the funerals of people killed in the air strikes earlier in the day.[56][57][58]
- July 3, 2009: US Drone kills 17 people and injures a further 27.[59]
- July 7, 2009: strike in Zangarha in South Waziristan kills at least 12 people.[60]
- July 8, 2009: US drone strike on a hideout in Karwan Manza area and on a vehicle convoy in South Waziristan kills at least 50 people.[61]
- July 17, 2009: US drone strike on a house in North Waziristan kills 4 people.[62]
- August 5, 2009: US drone strike in South Waziristan killed 12, including Baitullah Mehsud, his wife, and his wife's parents.[63][64] The kill was confirmed after weeks of uncertainty over their fate.[65][66][67][68][69]
- August 11, 2009: US drone strike in Ladda village, South Waziristan, kills 10.[70]
- August 21, 2009: US drone strike on the village of Darpa Kheil, North Waziristan, reportedly targeting Sirajuddin Haqqani kills at least 21 people.[71][72][73]
- August 27, 2009: US drone missile strike on the Tapar Ghai area in the Kanigram (Kanigoram) district in South Waziristan kills at 8 people.[74][75] One of the dead was reportedly Tohir Yo‘ldosh (Tahir Yuldash), leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.[76][77]
- September 8, 2009: US drone fired missiles kill 10 in North Waziristan.[78] The attack may have killed al Qaeda leaders Ilyas Kashmiri and Mustafa al Jaziri as well as three Punjabi militants and two or three local Taliban fighters.[79]
- September 14, 2009: US drone fired missile kills four people in a car 1.5 miles from Mir Ali in North Waziristan.[80]
- September 24, 2009: US drone fired missile kills up to 12 people in the village of Dande Darpa Khel near Mir Ali.[81]
- September 29, 2009: Two missile attacks take place. In the first, a drone attack reportedly killed six Taliban, including two Uzbek fighters and Taliban commander Irfan Mehsud, in a compound in Sararogha village, South Waziristan. In the second, a missile killed seven insurgents in a house in Dandey Darpakhel village, North Waziristan.[82][83]
- October 15, 2009: US drone missile killed at least four people in North Waziristan.[84]
- October 21, 2009: Alleged US drone missile killed two or three alleged militants in Spalaga, North Waziristan in territory controlled by Hafiz Gul Bahadur.[85][86] One of those killed was reportedly Abu Ayyub al-Masri (not the same as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader), an explosives expert for Al Qaeda and a "Tier 1" target of US counterterrorism operations.[87]
- October 24, 2009: Alleged US drone strike killed 27, in Damadolla , inside Bajaur tribal agency.[88][89] The 27 victims were reportedly a mix of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives engaged in a planning and strategy meeting. The dead apparently included 11 "foreigners". One of those reported killed was Faqir Mohammed's nephew, Zahid and another was Mohammed's unnamed son-in-law. The meeting was apparently being held to decide on whether to reinforce South Wazaristan against Pakistani forces, which Mohammed advocates, or exploit recent successes in the Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan, which Al Qaeda wishes to do.[90]
- November 5, 2009: 2 killed in Miranshah town in North Waziristan.[91]
- November 18, 2009: 4 killed and 5 injured in Shanakhora village of North Waziristan, 12 miles south of Miranshah.[92][93]
- November 20, 2009: 8 killed in the Machikhel area near the town of Mir Ali.[94]
- December 8, 2009: 3 killed in a car near Miranshah in North Waziristan, reportedly including 2 Al Qaeda members.[24][95] Senior Al qaeda planner Saleh al-Somali, from Somalia, is believed killed in this strike.[96]
- December 9, 2009: Six killed in Tanga, Ladha, South Waziristan, reportedly consisting of four Al Qaeda and two Taliban members.[24]
- December 17, 2009: 17 killed in 2 separate attacks in North Waziristan in an area controlled by Hafiz Gul Bahadur. In the first attack, two missiles hit a car near Dosali, killing two. In the second attack, 10 missiles fired by five drones hit two compounds in Ambarshaga, killing 15 people. Unnamed sources stated that seven of the dead were "foreigners."[97][98]
- December 18, 2009: 3 killed in an attack in Dattakhel region in North Waziristan.[99]
- December 26, 2009: 13 killed in an attack in Saidgai village in North Waziristan[100]
- December 30, 2009: A suicide bomber killed at least six CIA officers and seriously injured six others at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Afghanistan, which is used by the Central Intelligence Agency to coordinate drone attacks in Pakistan. The Haqqani network claimed responsibility.[101]
- December 31, 2009: Four killed in an attack in Machikhel village in North Waziristan. According to The Frontier Post, senior Taliban leader and strong Haqqani ally Haji Omar Khan, brother of Arif Khan, was killed in the strike along with the son of local tribal leader Karim Khan.[101][102]
In January 2010, al Qaeda in Pakistan announced that Lashkar al-Zil leader Abdullah Said al Libi was killed in a drone missile strike. Neither al Qaeda nor the US has revealed the date of the attack which killed Libi, but it appears to have taken place in December 2009.[103]
2010
- January 1, 2010: Missile strike on a vehicle near Ghundikala village in North Waziristan kills 3.[104][105]
- January 3, 2010: 5 people including 3 Arabs killed in an attack on Mosakki village in North Waziristan.[105][106]
- January 6, 2010: 2 separate missile strikes one hour apart kill approximately 35 people in Sanzalai village, North Waziristan.[105][107][108]
- January 8, 2010: Missile strike in Tappi village in North Waziristan killed 5 people. It is alleged that all the militants killed were local and were attached to Taliban Commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur.[105][109]
- January 9, 2010: 4 killed and three injured when 2 missiles are fired on a compound in village Ismail Khan in North Waziristan, territory of the Haqqani network.[110] Mahmoud Mahdi Zeidan, bodyguard for al Qaeda leader Sayeed al-Masri, was reported killed in either the January 8 or 9 airstrike.[111] Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim who was allegedly involved in hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986 was also reported killed in this strike.[105][112]
- January 13, 2010: Missile strike in Pasalkot village in a compound formerly used as a religious school in North Waziristan killed 15 people among them 3 militant commanders.[113] The apparent target of the strike was, Hakimullah Mehsud, who reportedly left the compound before the attack occurred.[114]
- January 15, 2010: Missile strike in Zannini village near Mir Ali in North Waziristan kills up to 15 people, probably including Abdul Basit Usman, an al-Qaeda terrorist.[105][115]
- January 15, 2010: Second missile strike of the day kills 6 in Bichi village in North Waziristan.[115]
- January 17, 2010: Missile strike in Shaktoi area of South Waziristan kills at least 20 people.[116] The leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud died of injuries sustained in this attack. The TTP initially denied his death but confirmed it later,[117] along with the Pakistani government.[118]
- January 19, 2010: Two missiles fired at a compound and vehicle in Booya village of Datakhel sub-division, 35 km west of Miranshah, in North Waziristan kills 9 people.[105][119]
- January 29, 2010: 6 to 15 killed when drones fire 3 missiles on a compound belonging to Haqqani network in Muhammad Khel town in North Waziristan.[105][120][121][122]
- February 2, 2010: Up to 8 US drones fired missiles at 4 different villages of North Waziristan killing at least 29 people.[123][124]
- February 14, 2010: 5 killed in a strike near Mir Ali in North Waziristan.[125]
- February 15, 2010: Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, leader of the Turkistani Islamic Party, is killed by a drone missile strike in North Waziristan.[126]
- February 17, 2010: Three militants killed by a missile strike near Tapi, Miramshah, North Waziristan. One of those killed was reportedly Sheikh Mansoor, a commander in the Lashkar al Zil.[127]
- February 18, 2010: 4 killed in a strike in Northwest Waziristan including Mohammed Haqqani, the brother of Afghan Taliban commander Siraj who leads the Haqqani network.[128][129] The missiles hit a vehicle belonging to Siraj that Mohammed was riding in, but Siraj was not in the vehicle at the time.[130] Mohammed and Siraj were reportedly attending the funeral of Sheikh Mansoor, who had been killed by a drone strike the day before.[127][128][129]
- February 24, 2010: Missiles fired by a US drone killed at least 13 militants at a compound and/or in a vehicle in the Dargah Mandi area of North Waziristan. Among the dead include Mohammed Qari Zafar, the head of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and the person responsible for the 2002 and 2006 bombing of the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Bahadar Mansoor, head of Badar Mansoor group, and Rana Afzal, the man behind the FIA HQ bombing in Lahore.[131][132][133][134]
- March 8, 2010: Three missiles fired by US drone aircraft killed five militants and wounded three in Miranshah.[135] It is alleged that Hussein al-Yemeni, an Al Qaeda terrorist who planned the Camp Chapman attack died in this strike.[136]
- March 10, 2010: Missiles fired from drones struck a compound and three vehicles in the village of Mizar Madakhel in North Waziristan. The attack killed at least 12 and as many as 21 militants. Five drones reportedly attacked in two waves. First, four missiles struck and demolished the compound. After local militants cordoned off the area and began recovering bodies, a second volley of missiles struck. Hafiz Gul Bahadar, a local Taliban leader and chief of the North Waziristan Shura, may have been killed in the strike.[137][138]
- March 16, 2010: Ten militants were killed in a US drone strike in North Waziristan's Datakhel area.[139][140]
- March 17, 2010: Two US Drone strikes killed 9 militants. In the first attack, the drones fired four missiles at a vehicle and a militant hide-out in Miranshah, killing six militants. About 50 minutes later, drones fired 3 missiles at a vehicle in Madakhel, killing 3 militants.[141]
- March 21, 2010: US drone fires two missiles in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan killing at least eight people and injuring several others.[142]
- March 23, 2010: US drones fired two missiles on a militant vehicle parked outside a compound in the suburbs of Miranshah in North Waziristan. At least six militants were killed and three others were wounded.[143]
- March 27, 2010: Drone strike in Mir Ali in North Waziristan kills 4 militants.[144]
- March 30, 2010: US drone fired three missiles, destroying a compound owned by Zamir Khan, a local tribesman, and used by militants in the city of Tapi in North Waziristan killing six militants.[145]
- April 12, 2010: 2 missiles fired by a US drone kill 5 in North Waziristan.[146]
- April 14, 2010: US drone strike targeting a vehicle killed at least 3 people and injuring 4 others in Anbarshaga area of North Waziristan. All of the dead and injured were Arab militants.[147]
US viewpoint
Barack Obama authorized the continuation of these strikes after he became US president.[148] Top US officials consider these strikes very successful and believe that the senior al-Qaeda leadership has been decimated by these strikes.[149][150] A list of the high-ranking victims of the drones was provided to Pakistan in 2009.[151] Obama has broadened these attacks to include targets seeking to destabilize Pakistani civilian government and the attacks of February 14 and 16, 2009 were against training camps run by Baitullah Mehsud.[152] On February 25, 2009 Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA indicated the strikes will continue.[153] On March 4, 2009 The Washington Times reported that the drones were targeting Baitullah Mehsud.[154] Obama was reported in March 2009 as considering expanding these strikes to include Balochistan [155]
On March 25, 2010 US State Department legal advisor Harold Koh stated that the drone strikes were legal because of the right to self-defense. According to Koh, the US is involved in an armed conflict with al-Qaida, the Taliban, and their affiliates and therefore may use force consistent with self-defense under international law.[156]
US officials stated in March 2009 that the Predator strikes had killed nine of al-Qaeda's 20 top commanders. The officials added that many top Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders, as a result of the strikes, had fled to Quetta or even further to Karachi.[157]
Some US politicians have condemned the drone strikes. US Congressman Dennis Kucinich asserted that the United States was violating international law by carrying out strikes against a country that never attacked the United States.[158]
US military reports asserted that al-Qaeda is being slowly but systematically routed because of these attacks, and that they have served to sow the seeds of uncertainty and discord among their ranks. They also claimed that the drone attacks have addled and confused the Taliban, and have led them to turn against each other.[159]
During a protest against drone attacks, in an event sponsored by Nevada Desert Experience, Father Louie Vitale, Kathy Kelly, Stephen Kelly, SJ, Eve Tetaz, John Dear, and others were arrested outside Creech Air Force Base on Wednesday April 9, 2009 [160][161].
In May 2009 it was reported that the USA was sharing drone intelligence with Pakistan.[162] Leon Panetta reiterated on May 19, 2009 that the US intended to continue the drone attacks.[163]
On July 20, 2009, the Brookings Institution released a report stating that ten civilians died in the drone attacks for every militant killed.[164] It suggested the real answer to halting al-Qaeda's activity in Pakistan will be long-term support of Pakistan's counterinsurgency efforts.[165] In July 2009 it was reported that (according to US officials) Osama Bin Laden's son Saad bin Laden was believed to have been killed in a drone attack earlier in the year.[166]
In December 2009 expansion of the drone attacks was authorized by President Barack Obama to parallel the decision to send 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan.[167] Senior US officials are reportedly pushing for extending the strikes into Quetta in Balochistan against the Quetta Shura.[168] Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on January 7, 2010 Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman stated the drone attacks were effective and would continue but stated that US would make greater efforts to prevent collateral damage.[169] In an effort to strenghthing trust with Pakistan 'US sharing drone surveillance data with Pakistan, says Mike Mullen '[170] US defence budget for 2011 asked for a 75% increase in funds to enhance the drone operations.[171]
The Associated Press (AP) noted that Barack Obama apparently expanded the scope and increased the aggressiveness of the drone campaign against militants in Pakistan after taking office. According to the news agency, the US increased strikes against the Pakistani Taliban, which earned favor from the Pakistani government, resulting in increased cooperation from Pakistani intelligence services. Also, the Obama administration toned down the US government's public rhetoric against Islamic terrorism, garnering better cooperation from other Islamic governments. Furthermore, with the drawdown of the war in Iraq, more drones, support personnel, and intelligence assets became available for the campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since Obama took office, according to the AP, the number of drones operated by the CIA over Afghanistan and Pakistan doubled.[172]
A study called 'The Year of the Drone" published in February 2010 by New America Foundation found that in a total of 114 drone strikes in Pakistan between 2004 and early 2010 approximately between 834 and 1,216 individuals had been killed, about two thirds of whom were thought to be militants and one third were civilians.[173]
Pakistani response
Pakistan has repeatedly protested these attacks as they are an infringement of its sovereignty and because civilian deaths have also resulted, including women and children, which has further angered the Pakistani government and people.[175][176][177] General David Petraeus was told in November 2008 that these strikes were unhelpful.[178] However on October 4, 2008 The Washington Post reported that there was a secret deal between the US and Pakistan allowing these drone attacks.[179] US Senator Dianne Feinstein said in February 2009: “As I understand it, these are flown out of a Pakistani base.”[180] Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi denied that this was true.[181]
Between November 2008 and January 2009 Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy (AIRRA), a think tank of researchers and activists from FATA and NWFP conducted a survey of the public opinion about the drone strikes in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. 5 teams of 5 researchers each interviewed 550 people from all walks of life..[167] Based on the responses the researchers concluded ' The popular notion outside the Pakhtun belt that a large majority of the local population supports the Taliban movement lacks substance'. Most people thought that the drone attacks were accurate and did not lead to anti American sentiment and were effective in damaging the militants. In addition the locals wanted the Pakistani forces to also target the militants.[182] According to Farhat Taj a member of AIRRA the drones have never killed any civilians. Some people in Waziristan compare the drones to Ababils , the holy swallows sent by God to avenge Abraha, the invader of the Khana Kaaba.[183]
In September 28, a spokesman for the Pakistani army condemned Washington's killing of Pakistani civilians and warned of retaliatory action: "Border violations by US-led forces in Afghanistan, which have killed scores of Pakistani civilians, would no longer be tolerated, and we have informed them that we reserve the right to self defense and that we will retaliate if the US continues cross-border attacks."[184]
The British newspaper The Times stated on February 18, 2009 that the CIA was using Shamsi airfield, 190 miles southwest of Quetta and 30 miles from the Afghan border, as its base for drone operations. Safar Khan, a journalist based in the area near Shamsi, told the Times, "We can see the planes flying from the base. The area around the base is a high-security zone and no one is allowed there."[185] [185] Top US officials confirmed to Fox News Channel that Shamsi airfield had been used by the CIA to launch the drones since 2002.[174]
The drone attacks continue, despite repeated requests made by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari through different channels.[186][187] Baitullah Mehsud while claiming responsibility for the 2009 Lahore police academy attacks, stated that it was in retaliation for the drone attacks.[188] According to The Daily Telegraph, Pakistani intelligence has agreed to secretly provide information to the United States on Mehsud's and his militants' whereabouts while publicly the Pakistani government will continue to condemn the attacks.[189] According to Pakistani authorities, from January 14, 2006 to April 8, 2009, 60 U.S. strikes against Pakistan killed 701 people, of which 14 were Al-Qaeda militants and 687 innocent civilians.[190]
On April 28, 2009 Pakistan's consul general to the US, Aqil Nadeem, asked the US to hand over control of its drones in Pakistan to his government. Said Nadeem, "Do we want to lose the war on terror or do we want to keep those weapons classified? If the American government insists on our true cooperation, then they should also be helping us in fighting those terrorists."[191] President Zardari has also requested that Pakistan be given control over the drones but this has been rejected by the US who are worried that Pakistanis will leak information about targets to militants.[51] In December 2009 Pakistan's Defence minister Ahmad Mukhtar acknowledged that Americans were using Shamsi airfield but stated that Pakistan was not satisfied with payments for using the facility.[192]
In an analysis published in Daily Times on January 2, 2010 author Farhat Taj challenged the view that the local people of Waziristan were against the drone attacks. Author states on the basis of personal interviews with people in Waziristan that the locals in Waziristan support the attacks and see the drones as their 'liberators' from the clutches of Taliban and Pakistan's Intelligence agencies. She further challenged the government of Pakistan to provide accurate figures about the 'civilian' casualties and tell what methodology was used to collect this data. According to her 'The people of Waziristan are suffering a brutal kind of occupation under the Taliban and al Qaeda. It is in this context that they would welcome anyone, Americans, Israelis, Indians or even the devil, to rid them of the Taliban and al Qaeda.'[193] In response to this analysis Irfan Husain writing in Dawn agreed with her assessment and called for more drone attacks. He wrote 'We need to wake up to the reality that the enemy has grown very strong in the years we temporized and tried to do deals with them. Clearly, we need allies in this fight. Howling at the moon is not going to get us the cooperation we so desperately need. A solid case can be made for more drone attacks, not less.[194]
United Nations human rights concerns
On June 3, 2009, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) delivered a report sharply critical of US tactics. The report asserted that the US government has failed to keep track of civilian casualties of its military operations, including the drone attacks, and to provide means for citizens of affected nations to obtain information about the casualties and any legal inquests regarding them[195]. Any such information held by the U.S. military is allegedly inaccessible to the public due to the high level of secrecy surrounding the drone attacks program[196]. The US representative at UNHRC has argued that the UN investigator for extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions does not have jurisdiction over US military actions[195], while another US diplomat claimed that the US military is investigating any wrongdoing and doing all it can to furnish information about the deaths[197].
On October 27, 2009 UNHRC investigator Philip Alston called on the US to demonstrate that it was not randomly killing people in violation of international law through its use of drones on the Afghan border. Alston criticized the US's refusal to respond to date to the UN's concerns. Said Alston, "Otherwise you have the really problematic bottom line, which is that the Central Intelligence Agency is running a program that is killing significant numbers of people and there is absolutely no accountability in terms of the relevant international laws."[198]
See also
- War in North-West Pakistan
- Terrorism in Pakistan
- List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001
- Violence in Pakistan 2006-09
- Operation Menu (the secret bombing of Laos during the Vietnam War)
References
- ^ http://boingboing.net/2010/03/04/us-drone-attacks-in.html
- ^ a b The CIA's Silent War in Pakistan, TIME, 2009-06-01
- ^ Strikes in Pakistan Underscore Obama’s Options, The New York Times, 2009-01-23
- ^ Shah, Saeed. "Deadly pilotless aircraft that have helped fuel anti-American feeling in tribal belt", The Guardian, 2008-11-24.
- ^ Drones: The weapon of choice in fighting Al Qaeda, The New York Times, 2009-03-17
- ^ No let-up in US drone war in Pakistan
- ^ The Drone War
- ^ Qaeda Planner in Pakistan Killed by Drone, The New York Times, 2009-12-11
- ^ Pakistan allowing CIA to use airbase for drone strikes, The Australian, 2009-02-19
- ^ Night raid kills Nek, four other militants: Wana operation,Dawn (newspaper), 2004-06-19
- ^ Al-Qaeda number three 'killed by CIA spy plane' in Pakistan, The Daily Telegraph. 2005-12-03
- ^ Missile Strike in Pakistan Kills 4, The Washington Post, 2007-04-27
- ^ Blast Kills at Least 20 in Pakistan, The Washington Post, 2007-06-20
- ^ Missile Kills 5 in Northwest Pakistan, The New York Times, 2007-11-03
- ^ Top al-Qaeda commander 'killed', BBC, 2008-02-01
- ^ a b c d e f Augustine Anthony (2009-06-18). "U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUSTRE55H1FN20090618?sp=true. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ Many die in Pakistan missile strike, Al Jazeera, 2008-02-28
- ^ Up to 16 dead in Pakistan missile strike, The Daily Telegraph, 2008-03-18
- ^ 12 killed in drone attack on Damadola, Dawn (newspaper), 2008-05-15
- ^ Al-Qaeda chief dies in missile air strike, The Guardian, 2008-06-01
- ^ a b Roggio, Bill, and Alexander Mayer, "A Look At US Airstrikes In Pakistan Through September 2009", Long War Journal, October 1, 2009.
- ^ Pakistan: US drone strike kills six people, The Daily Telegraph, 2008-10-01
- ^ U.S. Strike Is Said to Kill Qaeda Figure in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2008-10-17
- ^ a b c LongWarJournal.org, December 10, 2009.
- ^ Strike on Village In Pakistan Kills 4; Drone Is Suspected, The New York Times, 2008-10-23
- ^ 'US strike' kills Taleban leader, BBC, 2008-10-27
- ^ US airstrikes kill 20 in Pakistani villages, The Times, 2008-11-01
- ^ US drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan, The Times, 2008-11-14
- ^ US kills alleged transatlantic airline plot leader, reports say, The Guardian, 2008-11-22
- ^ At Least 8 Killed in Suspected US Drone Attack in Pakistan, Voice of America, 2008-12-22
- ^ The Long War Journal - US Predator strikes in Pakistan: Observations
- ^ "Over 700 killed in 44 drone strikes in 2009". Dawn.com (Dawn Media Group). 2010-01-02. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/18-over-700-killed-in-44-drone-strikes-in-2009-am-01. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ 2 Qaeda Leaders Killed in U.S. Strike in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2009-01-08
- ^ Deadly missiles strike Pakistan, BBC, 2009-01-23
- ^ U.S. Airstrike Kills 25 in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2009-02-14
- ^ US missile strike kills 30 in Pakistan, The Guardian, 2009-02-16
- ^ Missiles 'kill seven' in Pakistan, BBC, 2009-03-01
- ^ Phiến quân bắn rơi phi cơ không người lái của Mỹ (Vietnamese)
- ^ 24 killed, 50 hurt in Central Kurram drone strikes , Dawn (newspaper), 2009-03-13
- ^ Missile Strike Kills 4 in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2009-03-16
- ^ Drone attack reported in Pakistan, BBC, 2009-03-26
- ^ Suspected US missile strike kills four in Pakistan: Officials, The Times of India, 2009-03-26
- ^ Many killed in 'US drone attack', BBC, 2009-04-01
- ^ Pakistan: Hoả tiễn nghi của Hoa kỳ sát hại 12 phiến quân Taliban (Vietnamese)
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ 'US strike' on Pakistan militants, BBC, 2009-04-19
- ^ Six dead in suspected US drone attack, Dawn (newspaper), 2009-04-29
- ^ 15 dead in Waziristan drone attack, ambushDawn (newspaper), 2009-05-10
- ^ [3]
- ^ a b 25 Militants Are Killed in Attack in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2009-05-17
- ^ FACTBOX: U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, Reuters, 2009-06-14
- ^ Suspected U.S. drone attack in Pakistan' tribal area, 5 killed,Xinhua News Agency, 2009-06-18
- ^ Suspected US missile strike kills six in South Waziristan, Dawn (newspaper), 2009-06-23
- ^ Press TV – US drone strikes kill 50 in Pakistan
- ^ Japan Today - U.S. drone attack claims 80 lives in Pakistan
- ^ CBS News - US Drone Attack Claims 80 Lives In Pakistan
- ^ Turkish Weekly - US Drone Attack on Pakistan Condemned
- ^ Press TV - US drone attacks kill 13 in Pakistan
- ^ BBC - 'US strike' on Pakistan militants
- ^ BBC - Drones 'kill dozens' in Pakistan
- ^ BBC - Four die in Pakistan 'drone raid'
- ^ "Taliban confirm commander's death". BBC. 2009-08-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8220762.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ "Taliban film shows leader is dead". BBC. 2009-09-30. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8282174.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ 'Drone attack' kills Taliban wife
- ^ Mahsud, Ishtiaq, and Munir Ahmad, (Associated Press) "Aide says Pakistani Taliban leader Mehsud is dead", Yahoo news, August 7, 2009.
- ^ "Pakistan to seek Mehsud DNA proof". BBC. 2009-08-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8192893.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
- ^ "Taliban admit commander's death". BBC. 2009-08-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8220762.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- ^ Roggio, Bill, "Tahir Yuldashev Confirmed Killed In US Strike In South Waziristan", Long War Journal, October 4, 2009; Kitfield, James, "'Wanted: Dead'", National Journal, January 9, 2010.
- ^ "Pakistan drone attack 'kills 10'". BBC. 2009-08-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8194731.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
- ^ "U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, at least 3 dead". Reuters. 2009-08-20. http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE57J6WM20090820. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "Deadly missile strike in Pakistan". BBC. 2009-08-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8213354.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ^ Afzal, Hussain, "Toll from Pakistan missile strike rises to 21", Military Times (Associated Press), August 22, 2009.
- ^ 'Militants die in drone attack'
- ^ U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan
- ^ Ahmad, Munir (Associated Press), "Pakistan: US Missile Said To Kill A Top Militant", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 2, 2009.
- ^ Roggio, Bill, "Tahir Yuldashev Confirmed Killed In US Strike In South Waziristan", Long War Journal, October 4, 2009.
- ^ "Deaths in Pakistan drone attack". Al Jazeera English. 2009-09-08. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/09/20099815473888170.html. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ^ Roggio, Bill, "Senior Al Qaeda Leaders Reported Killed In North Waziristan Strike", Long War Journal, Sep 8, 2009.
- ^ Dawar, Rasool (Associated Press), "4 killed in missile attack in Pakistan", Military Times, Sep 14, 2009.
- ^ Associated Press, "Reported U.S. Missile Strike Leaves Four Dead In Pakistan", Los Angeles Times, September 25, 2009; Dawar, Rasool, (Associated Press), "Suspected U.S. UAV strike kills 12 in Pakistan", Military Times, September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Suspected U.S. drone attack kills five in Pakistan". Reuters. Washington Post. September 29, 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/29/AR2009092900694.html. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ Associated Press, "Pakistan: Missile Attacks Reportedly Kill 13 Insurgents", New York Times, Sep 30, 2009.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8308157.stm
- ^ Khan, Riaz (Associated Press), "Alleged U.S. missile kills 3 in Pakistan", Military Times, October 21, 2009.
- ^ Associated Press, "U.S. missile strike complicates Pakistan battle", Japan Times, October 23, 2009.
- ^ Hodge, Amanda, "US drone takes out al-Qa'ida kingpin", The Australian, October 23, 2009.
- ^ Death toll rises to 27 in Bajaur drone attack
- ^ Drone attack in Damadola, 18 killed
- ^ Roggio, Bill, "Bajaur Strike Hit Taliban, Al Qaeda Strategy Meeting", Long War Journal, October 24, 2009.
- ^ Suspected US Drone Attack Kills 2 in Pakistan
- ^ US missile hits militants in Pakistan tribal area: officials
- ^ Washington Post, "Drone Attack Kills 4 In Pakistan", November 19, 2009, p. 10.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8369795.stm
- ^ US drone attack kills three 'militants' in Pakistan, BBC, 2009-12-08
- ^ Al Qaeda Operations Planner Saleh Al-Somali Believed Dead in Drone Strike, ABC News, 2009-12-11
- ^ Twelve killed' in US drone strikes in Pakistan, BBC, 2009-12-17
- ^ Mahsud, Shtiaq, and Rasool Dawar (Associated Press), "Pakistan: U.S. strike kills 17 in Waziristan", Military Times, December 17, 2009.
- ^ Another Pakistan drone strike 'kills three militants', BBC, 2009-12-18
- ^ U.S. drone attack kills 13 in NW Pakistan
- ^ a b LongWarJournal.
- ^ Suspected drone attack kills 3 in Pakistan, CNN, 2009-12-31
- ^ Roggio, Bill, LongWarJournal, January 7, 2010.
- ^ At least six killed in two drone attacks in North Waziristan, Dawn (newspaper), 2010-01-01
- ^ a b c d e f g h "US drones killed 123 civilians, three al-Qaeda men in January". The News. 2010-02-01. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=221847.
- ^ US drone attack kills five in North Waziristan
- ^ Drone Strikes Reported in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2010-01-06
- ^ Máy bay không người lái hạ sát 12 người Pakistan (Vietnamese)
- ^ US missile strike 'kills five' in NW Pakistan, Agence France-Presse, 2010-01-08
- ^ 4 killed in suspected drone strike in Pakistan, CNN, 2010-01-09; Associated Press, "Pakistani Officials: Suspected U.S. Missiles Kill 4", Los Angeles Times, January 9, 2010.
- ^ Associated Press, "Drone Attack Kills Al Qaeda Guard", Washington Times, January 14, 2010, p. 7.
- ^ U.S. airstrike reportedly kills terrorist, The Los Angeles Times, 2010-01-16
- ^ US drone targets Hakimullah Mehsud, Dawn (newspaper), 2010-01-15
- ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100202/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan
- ^ a b Pakistani Taliban release audio of leader denying his death, Agence France-Presse, 2010-01-15
- ^ Pakistani officials: Suspected US drone kills 20, Associated Press, 2010-01-17
- ^ http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-taliban-confirm-hakeemullahs-death-ss-01
- ^ Washington Post, "Islamabad sure Taliban leader dead", February 11, 2010.
- ^ Six killed in US drone attack in North Waziristan, Press Trust of India, 2010-01-19; Associated Press, "Pakistan: Suspected Drone Strike Kills 5", New York Times, January 20, 2010.
- ^ Five killed in US drone strike, Dawn (newspaper), 2010-01-30
- ^ U.S. Missiles Kill 9 Taliban in Pakistan, Saturday, January 30, 2010, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584363,00.html?test=latestnews
- ^ Missile Strikes Kill 15 in Pakistani Tribal Region, Officials Say, The New York Times, 2010-01-30
- ^ Sources: Drone strikes kill 29 in Pakistan
- ^ Shah, Pir Zubair, "U.S. Drones Said To Strike Along Border In Pakistan", New York Times, February 3, 2010.
- ^ U.S. drone kills five in northwest Pakistan, Reuters, 2010-02-14
- ^ Reuters, "Missile Strike Killed Militant, Officials Say", Washington Post, March 2, 2010, p. 7.
- ^ a b Roggio, Bill, "Senior Al Qaeda Military Commander Killed In Predator Strike", LongWarJournal, February 20, 2010, referencing articles in the GEO News and Dawn News.
- ^ a b [4]
- ^ a b [5]
- ^ Shah, Pir Zubair, "Missile Kills Militant's Brother In Pakistan", New York Times, February 20, 2010, p. 6.
- ^ Drone attack 'kills four' in north-west Pakistan, BBC, 2010-02-24
- ^ Drone Attack Reported in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2010-02-24
- ^ Officials: Taliban leader killed by missile strike, Associated Press, 2010-02-25
- ^ 3 top Taliban militants among nine killed in drone attack, Zee News, 2010-02-24
- ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hq3Juf24xZy5MMioCYxq3Pzq8Xpw
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8573652.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8561357.stm
- ^ Roggio, Bill, "Top North Waziristan Taliban Leader Bahadar Rumored Killed In US Strike", LongWarJournal, March 11, 2010.
- ^ http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-nwaziristan-drone-strike-qs-08
- ^ Hỏa tiễn tình nghi của Hoa Kỳ hạ 9 phiến quân ở Pakistan (Vietnamese)
- ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100317/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan
- ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121372§ionid=351020401
- ^ http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/100323/world/pakistan_unrest_us_missile
- ^ US missiles kill four in North Waziristan, Dawn (newspaper), 2010-03-28
- ^ http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/100330/world/pakistan_unrest_us_missile
- ^ US drone attack kills five militants in North Waziristan
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8620895.stm
- ^ 2 U.S. Airstrikes Offer a Concrete Sign of Obama's Pakistan Policy, The Washington Post, 2009-01-24
- ^ U.S. Officials: Al-Qaida Leadership Cadre 'Decimated', NPR, 2009-02-15
- ^ Death from above: how Predator is taking its toll on al-Qaeda, The Times, 2009-01-03
- ^ Drone strikes killed high-value targets, US tells Pakistan, Dawn (newspaper), 2009-02-09
- ^ Obama Widens Missile Strikes Inside Pakistan, The New York Times, 2009-02-21
- ^ Panetta indicates strikes will continue in Pakistan, International Herald Tribune, 2009-02-26
- ^ U.S. takes fight to Taliban leader, The Washington Times, 2009-03-04
- ^ U.S. Weighs Taliban Strike Into Pakistan, The New York Times, 2009-03-17
- ^ Agence France-Presse, "U.S. offers argument for drone strikes", Japan Times, March 28, 2010, p. 1.
- ^ Sanger, David E., and Eric Schmitt, "U.S. Weighs Taliban Strike Into Pakistan", New York Times, March 18, 2009, p. 1.
- ^ http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/14/top17.htm
- ^ U.S. missile strikes take heavy toll on Al Qaeda, officials say, The Los Angeles Times, 2009-03-22
- ^ VCNV
- ^ Ground the Drones
- ^ US Shares Drone Intelligence with Pakistan, But No Joint Control, Voice of America, 2009-05-14
- ^ Drone attacks to continue in Pakistan: CIA chief, Dawn (newspaper), 2009-05-19
- ^ Drones kill 10 civilians for one militant: US report, Dawn (newspaper), 2009-07-21
- ^ Do Targeted Killings Work?, Brookings Institution, 2009-07-20
- ^ Bin Laden son 'probably killed', BBC, 2009-07-23
- ^ a b C.I.A. to Expand Use of Drones in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2009-12-03
- ^ Drone attacks may be expanded in Pakistan, Los Angeles Times, 2009-12-14
- ^ US senators defend drone attacks,Dawn (newspaper), 2010-01-08
- ^ [6]
- ^ US plans 75pc increase in drone operations, Dawn (newspaper), 2010-02-03
- ^ Apuzzo, Matt, (Associated Press), "Obama strategy widens assault on Pakistani, Afghan militants", February 12, 2010.
- ^ The Year of the Drone, New America Foundation, 2010-02-25
- ^ a b "Official Confirms U.S. Using Pakistan Base to Launch Attacks,"]. Fox News Channel. 2009-02-19. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/02/19/google-image-shows-base-pakistan/. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ^ Pakistan protest to US ambassador, BBC, 2008-11-20
- ^ Pakistan fury as CIA airstrike on village kills 18, The Daily Telegraph 2006-01-16
- ^ Civilian deaths in Pakistan attack, Al Jazeera, 2008-09-08
- ^ Petraeus, in Pakistan, Hears Complaints About Missile Strikes, The New York Times, 2008-11-04
- ^ A Quiet Deal With Pakistan, The Washington Post, 2008-10-04
- ^ US official says drones using Pakistan base, Dawn (newspaper), 2009-02-14
- ^ Pakistani bases not being used for drone attacks: FM, Daily Times (Pakistan), 2009-02-16
- ^ Drone attacks -- a survey, The News International, 2009-03-05
- ^ analysis: Dangerous abyss of perceptions —Farhat Taj,Daily Times (Pakistan), 2010-01-30
- ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=68818§ionid=351020401
- ^ a b Coghlan, Tom, Zahid Hussain, and Jeremy Page (2009-02-18). "Secrecy And Denial As Pakistan Lets CIA Use Airbase To Strike Militants". London: The Times. p. 1. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5755490.ece. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ^ Share intelligence, stop drone attacks: Zardari to US, NDTV February 02, 2009
- ^ US drone strikes in Pakistan hours after sovereignty pledge, The Independent, September 18, 2008
- ^ Lahore 'was Pakistan Taleban op', BBC, 2009-03-31
- ^ Wilkinson, Isambard, "Pakistan 'Helps US Drone Attacks'", The Daily Telegraph, April 4, 2009.
- ^ 60 drone hits kill 14 al-Qaeda men, 687 civilians, The News International, 2009-04-10
- ^ Christenson, Sig, "Pakistani: U.S. Should Cede Control Of Drones", San Antonio Express-News, April 29, 2009.
- ^ US forces using Shamsi airbase in Balochistan, Dawn (newspaper), 2009-12-12
- ^ analysis: Drone attacks: challenging some fabrications —Farhat Taj, Daily Times (Pakistan), 2010-01-02
- ^ Howling at the moon, Dawn (newspaper), 2010-01-09
- ^ a b "U.N. envoy calls for probe into U.S. drone attacks", CNN, June 4, 2009
- ^ Silverstein, Ken, "Is Secrecy on Drone Attacks Hiding Civilian Casualties?", Harper's Magazine, June 12, 2009
- ^ MacInnis, Laura, "UN envoy seeks more U.S. openness on war deaths", Reuters, June 3, 2009
- ^ Reuters, "U.S. Use Of Drones Queried By U.N.", New York Times, October 28, 2009.
External links
- UN human rights investigator Philip Alston warned US on deadly drone attacks
- The Drone War – By Peter Bergen, Katherine Tiedemann, New America Foundation
- New America Foundation: The Year of the Drone
- FACTSHEET: MQ-1 PREDATOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
- FACTSHEET: MQ-9 REAPER UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
- Interactive Map on U.S. Airstrikes in Pakistan from the Center for American Progress
- The Long War Journal - an online publication that tracks the C.I.A.’s drone campaign
- Senior al Qaeda and Taliban leaders killed in US airstrikes in Pakistan since 2004
- Google Map of U.S. Drone Attacks in Pakistan since 2004
- UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston Responds to US Defense of Drone Attacks’ Legality - video report by Democracy Now!