Drones are drowning the peace process

By:       Aasef Chauhdry

Since 2004, the US government has attacked thousands of targets in North West Pakistan using drones controlled by the Special Activities Division of CIA. Most of these attacks are on targets in the FATA along the Afghan border in Northwest Pakistan. These strikes began during the George Bush junior’s time and have increased substantially under his successor Barack Obama. In western media its referred as a “drone war”. Surveys have shown that the strikes are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, where they have contributed to a negative perception of the USA. Though the US administration has publicly claimed that civilian deaths from the attacks are minimal, nevertheless, the leaked military documents reveal that the vast majority of people killed have not been the intended targets, with approximately 13% of deaths being the intended targets, 81% being other militants, and 6% being civilians. The killing of more innocents and just 4% of the criminals in drone strikes in FATA is the net achievement of these monstrous drone strikes. During thirteen years about 423 drone attacks were carried out in a war alley’s air space, killing three thousand seven hundred and seventy five innocents and just few militants.
Undoubtedly Pakistan has done more than its power to cut back militancy and wipe out elements of anti-state aggression. Pakistan has gone beyond its resources to fight war against terrorism and irrefutably it is victorious in it. However in this war against terrorism Pakistan had to come across drones which initially US claimed that they are for surveillance but later it turned out to be camel in and Abdullah out when these recee missions converted into armed drones strikes thus indicated more of collateral damage than targeting terrorists. These strikes by an external force not only cause collateral damage but they were clearly violation of one country’s air space too.
In a recent drone strike carried out on 21 May, 2016 Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was killed while coming from Iran but was chosen to be targeted in Pakistani territory only, because of fragile relations with Iran. This killing of Taliban leader not only halted peace process which was going on for regional peace and stability but raises serious questions on US policies towards Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s standpoint these attacks are clear violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. On March 28, 2014, UN Human Rights Council voted (27 to 6) to approve a Pakistan-sponsored resolution titled, “Ensuring use of remotely piloted aircraft or armed drones in counter-terrorism and military operations in accordance with international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law”. These attacks not only generate distrust among local population particularly when operation Zarb e Azb is near its completion.
Drone attacks are clear violation of international laws and open act of aggression damaging sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan. The latter’s military and the civilian leadership, both political and bureaucrat, pondered over the issue of drone attacks and issued a statement that “Drone attacks are clear violation of international laws and open act of aggression damaging sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.” With one voice they echoed that collateral damage caused by drone attacks is clear violation of international human rights. The Noshki drone attack not only shows a trust deficit of US on her allies but has spoiled peace process and reflects a clear impression of US betrayal on dialogue process.
On the other hand US while misinterpreting Article 51 in Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter maintains its view that it is operating within the states’ right of self-defence and that US is involved in an armed conflict with al Qaeda, the Taliban, and their affiliates and therefore may use force consistent with self-defence under international law. Lets ignore US perspective for a while and read UN charter on legality of drone strikes; Article 2(4) of the UN Charter clearly states that all members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state so there is no justification of conducting strikes inside Pakistan’s territory. The US has mostly used the principle of self-defence to justify these drone strikes, but Pakistan is not directly involved in any conflict with US, so this claim of US stands nowhere. International Human Rights law, also known as ‘Law of War and the law of armed conflict’, is the legal framework applicable to situations of armed conflict and occupation. Its Article 51(3) of the 1977 First Protocol Additional to the 1949 Geneva Conventions mentioned that civilians shall not be targeted, unless they are directly involved in the fighting. Therefore, the Drone Strikes violate Article 2 of the Geneva Convention (IV) Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War by disregarding the human rights of the innocent civilians killed in the strikes.
On the other hand the American double standards are the main cause of ever rising problems. On one

Damadola, PAKISTAN: (FILES) In this picture taken 25 January 2006, a Pakistani tribesman sifts through the debris of his collapsed home after a 13 January, US air strike in the remote village of Damadola,in Bajur Tribal Agency bordering Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri escaped death in a US missile strike last month on a remote tribal village bordering Afghanistan, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said. The January attack killed a close relative of al-Zawahiri and four other militants, Pakistan military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan quoted Musharraf as saying 12 February. AFP PHOTO/Tariq MAHMOOD/FILES (Photo credit should read TARIQ MAHMOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

hand they demand Pak support for dialogue and on the other hand whenever Pakistan makes a sincere effort, the same moment the hard work is sabotaged deliberately by some untimely suspicious American act. In the past it was done when the Afghan leaders were gathered here in Pakistan, the Taliban Amir Mullah Omar was assassinated and now they have again spoiled the peace endeavors by targeting Taliban Chief with drone putting Pakistan in to a difficult position. Pakistan has literally pissed off by such immature and notorious American games. Hence on June 10, this year, when a high-level delegation of the US, including Gen. John Nicholson, Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, and Ambassador Richard Olson, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan visited Islamabad and met Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif apart from regional Security Situation, with particular reference to border management and peace and stability in Afghanistan in the post-21 May US drone strike environment also came under discussion. Expressing his serious concern on the US drone strike in Balochistan as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, the army chief highlighted as to how it had impacted the mutual trust and was counterproductive in consolidating the gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Gen. Raheel Sharif cautioned the Americans that all efforts for durable peace in the region have to be synergized with shared commitment and all stakeholders need to understand Pakistan’s challenges with regard to porous border, inter-tribal linkages and decades-old presence of over three million refugees.
Pakistan has rendered innumerable sacrifices in men and material and has always condemned such action which is a cause of regional instability. However, it’s not Pakistan’s sole responsibility. It’s time for the Americans and other stakeholders for the peace in the region to stop playing smart. Especially the Americans will have to seize their UAV missions forthwith if they really need Pakistan to play her part for the peace in the region.