Pakistan backs drones’ aim, not method: Khar

[p(-)0ENiX]

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar speaks at the Asia Society in New York on Thursday. Khar is in New York for the 67th UN General Assembly. – Photo by Reuters

Pakistan backs drones’ aim, not method: Khar
AFP - 7 hours ago​

NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday said that the country supports US aims in its secretive drone war over Pakistani territory, but not the methods, which she said are backfiring.

The CIA program of using the remotely controlled aircraft to watch the Afghan-Pakistan border and to fire missiles at militants on Pakistan’s side is bitterly opposed by most citizens of the country.

Khar, speaking at the Asia Society in New York, said she accepted the US government’s reasons for the onslaught, but called the strategy short-sighted.

“What the drones are trying to achieve, we may not disagree. We do not disagree. If they’re going for terrorists — we do not disagree,” she said.

“But we have to find ways which are lawful, which are legal.” “The use of unilateral strikes on Pakistani territory is illegal,” she said.

“It is illegal and it is unlawful.” Asked during her address to the Asia Society why polls find that anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is among the world’s highest, Khar answered with one word: “Drones.”

According to Khar, Pakistan’s government needs to build popular support for its own efforts to crush armed militant groups, but this is impossible as long as the war is viewed as US interference.

“As the drones fly over the territory of Pakistan, it becomes an American war and the whole logic of this being our fight, in our own interest, is immediately put aside and again it is a war imposed on us,” she said.

Ignoring Pakistani opposition to the drones, she said, is “about choosing to win the battle at the cost of the war. These are battles. You get one terrorist, two terrorists, fine. But are you winning the war?”

She expressed optimism about resolving the long-running sore in US-Pakistani relations, saying, “We are closer to finding ways and means than we were before.” But Khar rejected frequently voiced complaints from US lawmakers and commentators that Pakistan is a threat to US security and a hotbed of bombers, such as the Pakistani-American who tried and failed to ignite a car bomb in New York’s Times Square in 2010.

According to Khar, religious violence has deep roots and not only Pakistan is to blame for the presence of militants on its territory.

“It is time to say that we all made mistakes,” Khar said.

“When we were dealing with the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, your country, together with mine, decided to arm terrorists, and at that time we called them Mujahideen…. After that, your country moved away.” She added: “We don’t blame anybody.”

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[Pakistanisage]

The Govt. of Pakistan should bring this matter into UN General Assembly and stop this wink wink nudge nudge BS Policy.

 

[Abhishek_]

The Govt. of Pakistan should bring this matter into UN General Assembly and stop this wink wink nudge nudge BS Policy.

GOP doesn't seem to formulate such policies. it's Pindi isn't it?

 

[p(-)0ENiX]

GOP doesn't seem to formulate such policies. it's Pindi isn't it?

What is "Pindi"?

 

[ajtr]

What is "Pindi"?

GHQ rawalpindi.

 

[ajtr]

What is she trying to say?

 

[Oldman1]

What is she trying to say?

She's saying the drones are awesome, just not legal in killing terrorists.

 

[p(-)0ENiX]

GHQ rawalpindi.

Thanks for the clarification; my guess was Rawalpindi too.

What is she trying to say?

To sum it up; she's saying that the drone attacks are causing resentment for the United States in Pakistan, & that they need to employ other tactics in killing terrorists to avoid giving off the impression of US's interference in the country's affairs.

At this point I want Pakistan to continue their efforts on eliminating militants with the minimum number of casualties obviously. Of course there are others problems the country is facing that need to be dealt with simultaneously.

 

[Mercenary]

In other words, if Pakistan uses these drones, then its ok, but if America uses these drones over Pakistan, then its not.

I do understand her point but Pakistan will leak this technology to China and Pakistan cannot be trusted to go after Haqqanis, Afghan Taliban and other terrorists as they are seen by the Pakistani Army as a strategic asset to use in future wars with India.

 

[W.11]

In other words, if Pakistan uses these drones, then its ok, but if America uses these drones over Pakistan, then its not.

I do understand her point but Pakistan will leak this technology to China and Pakistan cannot be trusted to go after Haqqanis, Afghan Taliban and other terrorists as they are seen by the Pakistani Army as a strategic asset to use in future wars with India.

on behalf of whom are you speaking, the american govt, stop flying pakistani flag and choose some other flag..

you are acting like a hussain haqqani here who was sent as embassador of pakistan but he later became embasador of america

 

[Vassnti]

The question has to be asked is why Khar was not part of the Pakistan Olympic gymnastic team.

"little more than state execution".

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has called on the US to immediately end its "unlawful" and "counter-productive" assassination drone strikes in her country

Becomes

“What the drones are trying to achieve, we may not disagree. We do not disagree.

That has to be a tripple back flip with twist

The good news Pakistan has realised the TTP are the enemy bad news is its 5 years to late.

 

[airmarshal]

GOP doesn't seem to formulate such policies. it's Pindi isn't it?

Another stupid Indian post.

The government will never bring it to UN. This government or any other government has too many personal stakes in their relationship with US.

This drone program was allowed in Musharraf times. So obviously army has always been on board. In fact initial intel was provided by Pakistan.

So if they take it to UN, they themselves will be badly exposed.

 

[Mercenary]

on behalf of whom are you speaking, the american govt, stop flying pakistani flag and choose some other flag..

you are acting like a hussain haqqani here who was sent as embassador of pakistan but he later became embasador of america

Why should I fly some other flag when I am of Pakistani heritage?

Get a life.

 

[Najam Khan]

In other words, if Pakistan uses these drones, then its ok, but if America uses these drones over Pakistan, then its not.

I do understand her point but Pakistan will leak this technology to China and Pakistan cannot be trusted to go after Haqqanis, Afghan Taliban and other terrorists as they are seen by the Pakistani Army as a strategic asset to use in future wars with India.

I don't see any such meaning from this news report...
Pakistan has the right to use its resources inside its territory. Can we attack inside Afghanistan to take down Terrorist camps there? No. why? because we have no right to do so, any such adventure will escalate a big trouble.

Here is what she is saying..

“What the drones are trying to achieve, we may not disagree. We do not disagree. If they’re going for terrorists — we do not disagree,” she said.

“But we have to find ways which are lawful, which are legal.” “The use of unilateral strikes on Pakistani territory is illegal,” she said.

“As the drones fly over the territory of Pakistan, it becomes an American war and the whole logic of this being our fight, in our own interest, is immediately put aside and again it is a war imposed on us,” she said.

I think you know the problem with allowing US drone strikes or US forces ground operation in Pakistan, if its allowed for one single time U.S will keep on repeating it using that "one time" as the main case.

Its no hidden secret that these drone strikes and the ongoing un lawful CIA program in Pakistan is yielding no better results. The worst part is that Pak Governments are repeating same words and same tone since 2004...but actually nothing is implemented. No foreign policy change is made, no resolution is put in UN. Good speeches and emotional words are never going to change our fate.

 

[MilSpec]

If pakistani establishment feels what drone strikes objective is right, but issue is over legality, Why doesn't CIA put a PAF roundel on the drones, problem will be addressed.