The Drone Attacks Again, the US Envoy Summoned

The news is that in the northwest part of Pakistan a suspected U.S. drone attack caused the deaths of at least seven people. This drone attack came at a time in Pakistan when Nawaz Sharif’s party just came to power, and Sharif is strongly against drone attacks in his country. Nawaz Sharif, soon after taking over as Pakistan’s prime minister, demanded an immediate end to drone attacks. Since the appeal, this was the first attack.

Since the attack, the new government objected and cited a very high-ranking official. Sharif said that the drone attack is an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty.

One official said, following orders from Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, U.S. Envoy Richard Hogland was summoned to the Foreign Ministry.

On the other hand, regarding these attacks, U.S. President Barack Obama had announced strict rules. The drone fired two missiles at the north Waziristan tribal region on the Afghan border and targeted a compound in the village. It is being said that missiles targeted northern Waziristan’s main town of the valley Shavl, a hundred meters away from the Sokel remote villages. It is a highly turbulent region where al-Qaida and Taliban militants are believed to be based. Although it is not clear who was the principal target of the attack, this region is a destination for many terrorist groups. These included the deputy leader of the Pakistani Taliban hideout who died in last month’s drone strike.

Experts say that at this time the drone attacks can be tough for the newly elected prime minister of Pakistan because Nawaz Sharif’s efforts to engage in talks with the terrorist organizations may be jeopardized by these drone attacks. Drone attacks in Pakistan are a highly controversial issue. Citizens and the military often accuse the government of not taking it seriously. The estimates are that between 2004 and 2013, 3,460 people have been killed by American drone attacks. Of these, 890 people were civilians. At the beginning of this week, Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s sovereignty should be respected and that to stop U.S. drone attacks it is necessary to start a joint strategy. Nawaz Sharif said, while addressing his newly elected MPs, that we must understand America’s concerns about us and our concerns should be kept in front of them. We will explore ways to resolve this issue as well. He said that every day drone attacks must stop.