Free Hand for Conducting Drone Attacks; Pakistan’s Government Needs a Clear Stance

According to the American daily, The Wall Street Journal, President Barack Obama has given a free hand to the CIA to conduct drone attacks in Pakistan on the basis of suspicion. The newspaper says that the U.S. has a double standard in this respect. For other countries, the killing of ordinary citizens is not allowed; for Pakistan, however, anyone who is suspect may be targeted. It should be understood that it was this free hand policy of the U.S. government that resulted in the killing of a kidnapped American citizen and Italian citizen.

The government of Pakistan should take note of this aggressive, one-sided policy of the U.S. and, taking a strict view of the matter, adopt a clear stance on drone attacks. At a time when it is being greatly emphasized that the parliament’s resolution with regard to Saudi Arabia must be implemented, why is the resolution passed by the parliament against drone attacks not being seen as worthy of implementation? In this case, there is also a clear order of the Supreme Court. The government must at all costs implement the parliament’s resolution and the Supreme Court order against this extremist policy of the United States.

As far as the U.S. policy of giving a free hand to the CIA to carry out drone attacks on the basis of a suspicion is concerned, instead of depending on suspicion, the U.S. needs to make its intelligence known and provide information to Pakistan about all those locations where it considers drone attacks necessary. Pakistan will assess the situation and itself take action as needed. The strategy adopted by the U.S. violates international law and violates our sovereignty as well. Further, it results in the Pakistani government having to face criticism from the public. In this situation, the government has no option but to take the strictest stance.