Round The World

New Delhi, 6 November 2013

Use of Drones

RISING TENSIONS IN US-PAK TIES

By Prof Arvind Kumar

(Dept of Geopolitics & Intl Relations, Manipal University)

The use of drones by the US has seen a remarkable increase recently. Whereby, the drones have become a potent source for fighting the global war on terrorism and addressing the concerns and challenges of asymmetric conflict and terrorism. Technically, these drones are supposedly required to eliminate high value targets and since the onset of the war on terror their use have been highly effective and to a large extent yielded desirable results for Washington.

Undoubtedly, the use of drones became a preferred choice during the Bush Administration especially after the launch of the war on terrorism. But, their use was stepped-up and intensified during Obama’s Presidency. Since 2009, a modest calculation suggests the CIA launched roughly 240 drone strikes into Pakistan wherein sometimes Islamabad has connived and many times reacted vehemently against the drone strikes.

Indeed, the US is also using drones in Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Mali in along-with Pakistan. Thus, we need to understand the use of drones in a wider context. Obviously, such drones use by Washington does not have United Nations authorization. Thereby, again being seen as a symbolic message to the world about US’s intent and fundamental goals. The Obama Administration wants to project its supremacy and demonstrate that it has the wherewithal to promote its interests across the world.

Pertinently, drones are aircraft either controlled by ‘pilots’ from the ground or completely unmanned and follow a pre-programmed mission. It is auto-piloted but managed by a robust command and control system. The US has established a command and control centre at the US Air Force base Nellis and Creech located near Nevada.

The drones are mainly categorized into two types: Those used for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes and others armed with missiles and bombs which are used to target terrorists with high precision.

The relevance of satellites especially in controlling the drones’ maneouvers and maintaining the command and control centre is of utmost significance. In fact, the most beneficial use of drones is vis-à-vis their air worthiness and cost effectiveness. They are cheaper and easy to maneouver in comparison to military aircraft. Recall, armed drones were first used in the Balkans and after realizing their potential, they are now a preferred choice for the US.

Importantly, Washington has been optimizing its interests by constantly using drones for attaining its objectives and has established two separate squadrons of armed drones. The US Air Force runs one of the squadrons and the other is run by the CIA. The drones used by the CIA are mainly to target and assassinate terrorist leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan but unfortunately civilians have also become casualties alongside killings of military leaders.

Undeniably, the use of American drones to kill Pakistani Taliban’s leader Hakimullah Mehsud recently has raised debates among academic and strategic circles about the future of US-Pakistan relations. The Pakistani Establishment’s reactions are not in conformity with US interests.

True, Hakimullah Mehsud’s killing was a great achievement for the covert CIA programme wherein, his killing has given relief to Pakistan’s civil society in general and the South Asia region in particular. Given that Mehsud was a terror for both as his Pakistani Taliban has so far killed thousands of people mostly through suicide bombings, thereby emerging as the main perpetrators of terrorism. Worse, this has negatively impacted global peace and stability.

The timing of the drone attack on Mehsud might not have augured well because of the opposition which the US received just prior to the attack by none other than Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his meeting with President Obama. Ironically, Nawaz Sharif had plans to hold peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban despite knowing their nefarious designs.

Clearly, the Pakistani Establishment statement that Mehsud’s killing has derailed the planned peace process with his Pakistani Taliban does not augur well with the commitment to eliminate terrorism from the region. Wherein, Pakistan has become a victim of its own State’s policies. Somehow, there seems to be a lack of seriousness and genuine commitment on the Establishment’s part in addressing these ruthless issues confronting civil society and the region.

Besides, the Pakistani Taliban leaders’ reactions after Mehsud’s killing nowhere reflect their willingness to engage with Pakistan’s Establishment. The feelings among its leaders that the Establishment was fully complicit with the US in the drone strike itself suggest that they have no intentions to move forward and commit to refraining themselves from terrorists’ activities.

Further, the varying degree of opinion emerging across Party lines in Pakistan seems to be signaling a disturbing trend and emergence of a very precarious situation in the foreseeable future. Instead of making a commitment and fighting this menace collectively, the divided opinion will further damage peace and stability in the region.

Notably, various political Parties have made suggestions but these are mainly in the form of blocking NATO supply lines in retaliation to the American drone strikes. Pressure is being put on the Pakistani military to attack American drones.

Consequently, Pakistan’s leadership is in the throes of a great dilemma. It has to fine tune its thinking and create a balance by mobilizing domestic public opinion against terrorists’ groups and also commit to Washington about its intentions and fundamental goals.

If there is a dominant view that the American drone strikes have challenged the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, then it is essential to address these through public discourses about the mechanism to deal with the US and invisible forces in the form of terrorist groups.

It is high time, Pakistan change its stance and policy and stop working covertly with terrorists groups. Such a change of policy will certainly be in Islamabad’s interests. Certainly, the US use of drones has seen a downward trajectory in US-Pakistan ties.  

The need of the hour is to evolve robust mutual understanding and take a pledge to dismantle all terrorist networks, which have been given shelter by the Pakistani Establishment over the years. The international community is waiting to see that commitment from Pakistan.

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)