Pakistan gives US military the go ahead for Predator drone strikes on Pakistani soil

by Kal El on May 13, 2009 · Comments

HELL YEAH! Now things will start happening in Pakistan. Their military is launching some operations against the Taliban on the ground, and our Predators will assist from the sky.

US gives Pakistan ‘control’ over drone strikes

* Drones will be allowed under direction of Pakistani military officials working with American counterparts in Jalalabad

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: The US military has begun flying Predator drones in Pakistan and given Pakistani officers significant control over targets, flight routes and decisions to launch attacks, US officials say.

The officials say the project has been started recently to bolster Pakistan’s ability and willingness to disrupt the militant groups active in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For the US military, the missions represent a broad new role – searching for militants in Pakistan. For years, that task was the domain of the CIA.

Under the new partnership, US military drones will be allowed under the direction of Pakistani military officials, working with American counterparts at a command centre in Jalalabad.

US officials say the programme is aimed at getting Pakistan “more directly and deeply engaged” in the Predator programme.

“This is about building trust,” said a senior US military official. “This is about giving them capabilities they do not … have to help them defeat this … extreme element … in their country.”

Pakistanis, however, have yet to use the drones to shoot at suspected militants.

US officials acknowledge that the initiative carries serious risks. Pakistan, they said, was struggling to balance a desire for more control over the drones with a reluctance to become ‘complicit’ in strikes on its “own people”.

During his visit to Washington last week, President Asif Zardari had reiterated the request for a fleet of Predators. US officials have all but ruled that out, describing the jointly operated flights as an effective compromise.

While the CIA drones continue to focus on Al Qaeda, the military drones are intended to disrupt militant networks deeper into Pakistan.

I know it is wishful thinking, but hopefully the Pakistany military can bring the pain to the Taliban, sparing the US the need to put boots on the ground.

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  • SirWilhelm
    I think "The US military has begun flying Predator drones in Pakistan" means that the Predators are being based and launched in Pakistan in areas that allow them to reach targets they weren't able to reach from Afghanistan. The Pakistani military and intelligence services should be able to "see" the enemy better than we can, leading to better targeting, although it's never easy with an enemy that uses human shields.

    Snack, I've often wondered why the Muslims haven't seen, after around 1300 years of fighting infidels, that they haven't gotten anywhere, aside from their early initial successes. If Allah hasn't given them victory in all that time, why would things change now?

    Jewhawk, most of the world is obviously anti-Semitic. There's no rational explanation for it. All Israel can do is never give in.
  • JEWHAWK
    When Israel strikes Hamas and Hezbollah with deadly results,the
    world media em masse criticizes Israel,something I'm not noticing
    with the (correct) U.S.bombings.I guess they think that Jews aren't entitled
    to defend themselves.

    If we rely on them,we are doomed to be the victims to look good in their eyes...

    I simply say NO to this.
  • G
    The CIA has been doing that for months now

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7847423.stm
  • hellosnackbar
    Predators don't you just love them!
    I wonder if the Islamoturds ever wonder why the Kufr are so well equipped with these amazing surveillance and killing machines;and why they aren't?
    The answer is that Allah isn't on their side(she must hate the rag headed bufoons)
    The most obvious conclusion is that Allah is non existent;but such conclusions are forbidden to members of the death cult.
    A few more thousand deceased are needed to get the message across.
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