Omar Waraich: Outraged in public, yet Pakistan quietly approves

The criticism creates real problems for us in terms of the Pakistani public and helps create real animosity

Friday 15 January 2010 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Dead or alive? Pakistan was abuzz with that question yesterday hours after reports proliferated, suggesting that the Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud may have been among the dozen killed when missiles fired from a CIA-operated drone exploded in a militant hideout. If the strike found its target, it would mark the second time that Washington's covert and controversial assassination policy has slain Pakistan's worst enemies.

Last August, similar firepower was deployed to kill Baitullah Mehsud, the founder of the Pakistani Taliban and the suspected assassin of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Hakimullah's death would be sweet revenge for the US spy agency after he claimed credit for the suicide bombing by a Jordanian double agent which killed seven CIA officials on 30 December 30. It would also represent a major boon for Pakistan. Under his command, the Taliban has unleashed a wave of terror that has killed over 500 innocent people across the country since October.

Not that Pakistan is likely to express any gratitude, at least in public. Indeed, Islamabad ritually denounces the drone attacks as a violation of its sovereignty, while quietly acquiescing in them. Indeed, the drones are believed to take off from within Pakistan itself.

This week US Senator Carl Levin complained about Pakistan's complaining. While it suits Pakistan to attack such strikes in a bid to contain public outrage, he said, such criticism, "creates real problems for us in terms of the Pakistani public and helps create some real animosity towards us – a sense of revenge, the implication that we're violating Pakistan's sovereignty."

Patience is wearing thin in Washington. Top US military commanders in Afghanistan reckon that if the Haqqanis and Mullah Omar continue to operate out of Pakistan unimpeded, it could seriously compromise their mission. In response the US could expand the area of drone attacks. If that happens, and deadly missiles begin raining down around the Pakistani city of Quetta, where the Afghan Taliban leaderships is suspected to be hiding, Pakistani outrage could be too great to contain.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in