Pakistan’s newly elected government is likely to seek transfer of drone technology from United States.
Islamabad, July 8/Nationalturk – After failing to stop US drone attacks in country’s tribal areas, Pakistan’s newly elected government is likely to seek transfer of drone technology from United States.
“The preliminary discussions between United States and Pakistan to find alternatives to drone use have already started,” a top government official was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s newspaper, Express Tribune.
He said Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the proposal during their recent meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN meeting in Brunei Darussalam.
Formal proposal will be made during Kerry’s visit to Pakistan
The official said the formal proposal seeking transfer of drone technology to Pakistan will be made during the forthcoming visit of Kerry to the country. “Kerry is due to travel to Islamabad by the end of this month and Pakistan government will forcefully raise this issue”.
Another official said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will float the proposal in July 12 meeting of heads of all political parties to discuss country’s national security policy.
The use of drones by US to target top militant commanders of Qaeda and Taliban in Pakistan’s tribal region has been the source of friction between Islamabad and Washington.
Pakistan considers drone strikes as violation of sovereignty
Many top al Qaeda figures and other militants were killed in the drone strikes, which Pakistan considers as violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
It says the drone strikes and civilian casualties caused by such attacks have increased anti-US hate in the country, further fuelling militancy.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Pakistan was seeking the transfer of drone technology from the US to deal on its own with militant threats in the tribal belt.
Cricketer-turned politician and chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said yesterday if the government was against the drone attacks in the country, then why does not it pass an order to target them.
Imran wanted shooting down of drones
Like other parties in country’s Imran’s PTI’s opposes US drone strikes in tribal regions of the country and before May 11 general election, he had said that if his party was voted to power, he would order shooting down of the US drones.
It, however, is not known whether Pakistan has the capability to target or shoot down US drones.
However, a senior government official said, “Pakistan government had no intention to adopt any confrontational approach on drone attacks with US. We will have to find a solution to this drone use through mutual understanding and shooting down drones is not the answer”.
Pakistan’s previous government led by Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) had also sought transfer of drone technology from US. However, it was rejected by US. It remains to be seen what will be US response this time.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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