Military leadership backed drone strikes: US cable
source:wikipediaGeneral Ashfaq Kayani,
source bingCommander Admiral William J.
Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani, in a meeting with US CENTCOM Commander Admiral William J. Fallon on January 22,2008, requested the US to provide aid in South Waziristan where the army was conducting operations against militants.
The American account of Gen Kayani’s request for drone assistance does not make clear if mere air surveillance was requested or missile-armed drones were being sought. However the reaction to the request suggests otherwise. According to the report of the meeting sent back to Washington by Patterson, Admiral Fallon regretted that he did not have the authority to support this request but offered trained US Marines to coordinate air strikes for Pakistan Army on ground. General Kayani, however, turned down the offer saying that having US soldiers on ground “would not be politically acceptable.”
Previously exposed diplomatic cables have already shown that in private, Pakistan’s civilian leadership is strongly supportive of the drone strikes on alleged militant targets in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), though as they condemn them for general consumption
The American account of Gen Kayani’s request for drone assistance does not make clear if mere air surveillance was requested or missile-armed drones were being sought. However the reaction to the request suggests otherwise. According to the report of the meeting sent back to Washington by Patterson, Admiral Fallon regretted that he did not have the authority to support this request but offered trained US Marines to coordinate air strikes for Pakistan Army on ground. General Kayani, however, turned down the offer saying that having US soldiers on ground “would not be politically acceptable.”
Previously exposed diplomatic cables have already shown that in private, Pakistan’s civilian leadership is strongly supportive of the drone strikes on alleged militant targets in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), though as they condemn them for general consumption
source:TheNews
At the time of the operations, the Pakistani government was thought to have only given the controversial drone program tacit approval behind closed doors due to the public outcry that often followed deadly strikes. In November 2008, Pakistan summoned then U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson to protest drone strikes that killed at least 20 in the three months prior.
Then, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani told Pakistan's National Assembly the missile attacks were "intolerable," according to a report by Reuters. source abc
At the time of the operations, the Pakistani government was thought to have only given the controversial drone program tacit approval behind closed doors due to the public outcry that often followed deadly strikes. In November 2008, Pakistan summoned then U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson to protest drone strikes that killed at least 20 in the three months prior.
Then, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani told Pakistan's National Assembly the missile attacks were "intolerable," according to a report by Reuters. source abc
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