US Continues Drone Strikes in Pakistan

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NORTH WAZIRISTAN, Pakistan – The US government continued its drone-striking campaign against the Taliban over the past week.  This time the government killed at least two alleged pro-Taliban fighters in the tumultuous northwestern region of Pakistan.  The two attacks, which included direct hits in North Waziristan, occurred within an hour of each other on Wednesday according to Pakistani officials.  The first attack included a series of four missile strikes aimed at a departing vehicle in Miran Shah, an important center in North Waziristan.  This initial four-missile strike also razed a residence which was close to the targeted vehicle.  The second attack consisted of a three-missile strike in Madakhel, another town approximately 40 km from Miran Shah.

These particular missile strikes occurred after a recent US drone strike killed at least eleven peoples all suspected to be agents acting in allegiance with the Taliban.  Previous attack, along with the latest couple of drone missile strikes, demonstrates a pattern of concentrating the targeted killing of pro-Taliban fighters in North Waziristan.

Although the US drone attacks have been an effective means of killing Taliban supporters, their continual use and adverse effects have come under immense scrutiny on a number of occasions.  The UN and the international community, along with many NGOs and other human rights groups, have made numerous human rights violations claims.  There has been a history of significant collateral damage caused by the US drone strikes.  Many opponents of US drone attacks have claimed that the strikes cause an unconscionable arbitrary loss of civilian lives.  Although unintended casualties are to be expected in the theater of war, those challenging the legality of US drone strikes have determined that the high rate of civilian death supersedes allowable collateral damage.

Furthermore, there have been conflicting views of whether or not the US drone strokes constitute an arbitrary deprivation of life and property without due process.  The CIA, which has control over conducting the missile strikes, does not release public statements regarding their attacks, but has continually defended the legality of implementing drones.  However, the intelligence organization has yet to release a statement responding directly to the myriad human rights violations it has allegedly perpetrated.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Pakistanis die in US drone raids – 17 March 2010

BBC News – US drone strike in Pakistan ‘killed key al-Qaeda man’ – 17 March 2010

Radio Free Europe – US Drone Strike Kills Five in Northern Pakistan – 17 March 2010

The US government continued its drone-striking campaign against the Taliban over the past week.  This time the government killed at least two alleged pro-Taliban fighters in the tumultuous northwestern region of Pakistan.  The two attacks, which included direct hits in North Waziristan, occurred within an hour of each other on Wednesday according to Pakistani officials.  The first attack included a series of four missile strikes aimed at a departing vehicle in Miran Shah, an important center in North Waziristan.  This initial four-missile strike also razed a residence which was close to the targeted vehicle.  The second attack consisted of a three-missile strike in Madakhel, another town approximately 40 km from Miran Shah.

These particular missile strikes occurred after a recent US drone strike killed at least eleven peoples all suspected to be agents acting in allegiance with the Taliban.  Previous attack, along with the latest couple of drone missile strikes, demonstrates a pattern of concentrating the targeted killing of pro-Taliban fighters in North Waziristan.
Although the US drone attacks have been an effective means of killing Taliban supporters, their continual use and adverse effects have come under immense scrutiny on a number of occasions.  The UN and the international community, along with many NGOs and other human rights groups, have made numerous human rights violations claims.  There has been a history of significant collateral damage caused by the US drone strikes.  Many opponents of US drone attacks have claimed that the strikes cause an unconscionable arbitrary loss of civilian lives.  Although unintended casualties are to be expected in the theater of war, those challenging the legality of US drone strikes have determined that the high rate of civilian death supersedes allowable collateral damage.
Furthermore, there have been conflicting views of whether or not the US drone strokes constitute an arbitrary deprivation of life and property without due process.  The CIA, which has control over conducting the missile strikes, does not release public statements regarding their attacks, but has continually defended the legality of implementing drones.  However, the intelligence organization has yet to release a statement responding directly to the myriad human rights violations it has allegedly perpetrated.

Author: Impunity Watch Archive