John Kerry's Pakistan Visit: Drone Attacks Should Be Stopped

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is arriving in Islamabad on June 26; Pakistan has decided to raise the issue of drone attacks very forcefully with him. Observers believe ending the drone attacks will help America gain cooperation in its withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The U.S. drone attack of the past day has proven that the U.S. is least concerned with the protests from the government and the people of Pakistan. Despite repeated condemnations by the Pakistani government and intense protests from the people, America is continuing its policy of attacking desired targets whenever it wants.

Now that the U.S. secretary of state is coming on his first visit to the country since the installation of the new government, the Pakistani government should demand the end of drone attacks in very clear terms during discussions with him. If some agreement was made with America in this connection during the Musharraf regime, that agreement should now be ended; these attacks are the biggest challenge to Pakistan’s sovereignty and safety. Further, it is Pakistan that suffers the most from the consequences of the drone attacks.

The Pakistan government should make Kerry aware of the emotions and sentiments of the Pakistani people and explain to him that stopping the drone attacks is important for peaceful withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan. If drone attacks are not stopped, the incensed public could possibly create obstacles to the withdrawal in Pakistan.

If the government does not take a strong stance on the drone attacks in the course of Kerry’s visit and is unable to show progress in resolving this issue, anti-American political and religious parties and people may come out on the streets, which could prove dangerous for the democratic system.