Can Pakistan legally shoot down U.S. drones?

[SpArK]

Pakistan should order some Stinger missiles from US to shoot down these drones.

 

[bigzgvr4]

Pakistan should order some Stinger missiles from US to shoot down these drones.

NO pakistan have anza mk3 which are really good as the anza series saw action in kargil skrimish when it downend 2 iaf planes

"thank you come again"

 

[livingdead]

They said if Civilian Govt pass the resolution from Elected parliament they will go after that. And thats the right approach

Knowing fully well, even after passing resolution they will not go after drones for above reasons. Also why would you need to pass resolution in parliament for operational matters?
An executive order should suffice.

They should have kept quiet, and let the civvy govt talk demanding pakistani public out of it. Thankfully govt took the blame to protect PA's honour in public eye.

 

[janon]

That is a valid point.There is enough evidence that points out that GHQ is in agreement with the Drone Attack Policy and it may even be a part of a "sweetheart deal" between CIA/DoD/GOTUS and ISI/GHQ. GoP is agreeable to this because; when the deal was struck, GoP had little leverage on this matter. Of course it is convenient now for ISI/GHQ to stick to the age-old "Doctrine of Deniability" and deflect all criticism towards the GoP and the Political Estt. On expected lines.

I think this is where today's court order will throw a spanner in the works. Since the court has ordered the GoP to put an end to the drone strikes, or to take the matter on an international forum, the gov will either have to come open about the secret dealings, or face contempt of court. If they did do backchannel deals allowing drone strikes in the country, they cannot take the matter to the UN or ICJ, because US will expose all the deals, and claim to be on the right side of international law and UN charter (which it will be). On the other hand, if GoP does not take action as per court ruling, they can very well be charged with contempt of court, and some higher ups will pay the price. If secret deals with USA are exposed, people of pakistan will be up in arms. It seems to me that poor GoP may be caught between a rock and a hard place on this one.

NO pakistan have anza mk3 which are really good as the anza series saw action in kargil skrimish when it downend 2 iaf planes

"thank you come again"

One, actually. And it was a helicopter without any countermeasures. The other was due to engine failure. Anyway, off topic.

 

[Fuego]

I don't think US will order pakistan to shoot their own drone.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

I think this is where today's court order will throw a spanner in the works. Since the court has ordered the GoP to put an end to the drone strikes, or to take the matter on an international forum, the gov will either have to come open about the secret dealings, or face contempt of court. If they did do backchannel deals allowing drone strikes in the country, they cannot take the matter to the UN or ICJ, because US will expose all the deals, and claim to be on the right side of international law and UN charter (which it will be). On the other hand, if GoP does not take action as per court ruling, they can very well be charged with contempt of court, and some higher ups will pay the price. If secret deals with USA are exposed, people of pakistan will be up in arms. It seems to me that poor GoP may be caught between a rock and a hard place on this one.



One, actually. And it was a helicopter without any countermeasures. The other was due to engine failure. Anyway, off topic.

You are correct in the first part of your post. That "Drone Strike Policy" seems to have been set up with Pakistan's Security Estt. being very much on board. While the indications also are that the Political Estt. lent Tacit Approval. Which has colored the Pakistani response to the Strikes as being so wishy-washy as to be nearly non-existent.

Now, the question is how much leverage or pressure will be caused by the Peshawar HC judgement on this matter. As @nuclearpak has said; contempt or disregard of court orders has taken place in the past, there is no reason why that will not be resorted to now as well. Again; its a HC order, not a SC order- so its weightage is less. If it was a SC order; especially emanating from CJP Iftikar Choudhary, then the "powers that be" would really have "to scratch their heads" about implementation. Let us wait and watch; though I will tend to agree with nuclearpak- nothing will happen at all. Nobody is willing to take "panga" with Uncle Sam.

 

[Jango]

This is a completely emotional order by HC it seems.

So now the HC is going to dictate our foreign policy and drones and relationship with US? This seems wrong.

 

[Amaa'n]

US played their part well by claiming that AQ / Terrorists are in Tribal region and attacks are planned and launched from this region against US Troops in Afghanistan, hence declaring it as an act of Self-Defense, which makes it legal to carry out the strikes in Pakistan, and makes it illegal for Pakistan to shoot it down.

But have they not challenged this in Court is what I failed to understand as the issue was raised in UN.

Title of the thread reminds of another question:-

Is US invading other countries legal i.e Iraq / Afghanistan?

 

[A.Rafay]

The Peshawar High Court has ordered that drone strikes are illegal and in the written order, has ordered Army/Govt to shoot them down.

Even parliament have passed resolution against drones. Pakistan also have appropriate weapons to shoot them.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Even parliament have passed resolution against drones. Pakistan also have appropriate weapons to shoot them.

THEN; What is missing?

 

[Ayush]

legally-yes..
practically-no..

 

[livingdead]

Even parliament have passed resolution against drones. Pakistan also have appropriate weapons to shoot them.

pakistan does have appropriate weapon... do you want that included in resolution too?
why do you need parliament resolution in first place. Govt has the authority to order such action.

 

[A.Rafay]

THEN; What is missing?

Strong leadership, politicians cant handle the aftermath of shooting a drone down.

pakistan does have appropriate weapon... do you want that included in resolution too?
why do you need parliament resolution in first place. Govt has the authority to order such action.

But they can't order such action, Zardari secretly allowed drones.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Strong leadership, politicians cant handle the aftermath of shooting a drone down.

But they can't order such action, Zardari secretly allowed drones.

Both GHQ and GoP have sanctioned the use of Drones.
Having done that already; what can they do now?

 

[livingdead]

Strong leadership, politicians cant handle the aftermath of shooting a drone down.

But they can't order such action, Zardari secretly allowed drones.

musharaf allowed it, rest are continuing.
If your are a leader you will also see the options available, and which one is better for your country.
And I think your govt is right, and PA is also right, in not taking action. Its lesser of two evils.