25.05.2013 Drone drift
There appears to have been a change, or at least a drift, in US policy on drone strikes. Speaking on the controversial attacks by unmanned aircraft at Washington’s National Defence University, US President Barack Obama broke away to some extent on his predecessor George W Bush’s stance on drones, stating that in Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan, their use would be “limited” and they would be deployed only when the capture of a key target was impossible. He also said civilian casualties would be avoided at all costs. It may be noted that drone attacks have recently come under fierce criticism from rights groups including Amnesty International, which has said they are illegal. The drone attacks have, of course, been a key issue of political and humanitarian debate at home, figuring prominently in the recent election campaign.
President Obama’s words on more controlled use of drones are welcome, but they are simply not enough. The strikes need to be stopped completely — given the deaths of civilians they have caused and the deep sense of outrage they have given rise to. They, of course, also erode Pakistan’s sovereignty. This, too, has been an issue brought up many times at home. The damage inflicted by the drones comes in many forms. But putting emotion aside for a while, we need also to look at reality.
The truth is that had the state done a more efficient job, the drone strikes across the north may never have been necessitated. We need to consider why various key militants, including the late Baitullah Mehsud, were reached by drones, obviously on the basis of very sound intelligence, but could not be captured by our own apparatus. Other examples exist, too. Yes, the drone attacks must stop; the death and terror they bring must end. We hope President Obama will recognise this and accept that limiting strikes is not enough. But to make this more likely we must also consider our policy at home and ensure that at our own end, we are doing everything possible to remove the militants from our midst, ensuring no other force feels the need to do this for us.
An unending scourge
Terrorism appears to have become a feature in our lives that simply refuses to go away. Quetta, in the past, has repeatedly been the epicentre of such violence, and on May 23, the city saw yet another terrorist attack on security personnel when around 100kgs of explosives planted along the route of a bus carrying members of the Rapid Response Force of the Balochistan Constabulary detonated as the vehicle transported persons on duty from Qasim Lines into the main city. Thirteen were killed and at least 17 others injured. Provincial Home Secretary Akbar Durrani has admitted an intelligence failure and as a province-wide hunt begins, six arrests have been made.
According to Reuters, the Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban, according to the report, say this was in retaliation for the recent arrest and killing of some of their colleagues belonging to the Swat Taliban. This comes after prime minister-elect Nawaz Sharif stressed the need for dialogue with the Taliban. The Taliban, according to reports, have responded by saying that it is too early for them to respond to such an offer. In the meantime, murder and mayhem continue, and we clearly need greater efficiency from our law-enforcing apparatus and intelligence network — though, of course, in the final analysis, even this may not be enough.
These latest attacks, of course, only compound the convoluted problems of Balochistan, which are by now so deeply entrenched in its soil that the solutions will need to be worked out at the highest policymaking levels. The task falls squarely on the shoulders of the government due to take oath in the province. Its degree of success in this will determine a lot about a province, which appears to be on the brink of falling apart, torn to shreds by violence that has come in so many different forms. Indeed, this government cannot afford to fail. It carries a huge responsibility on its shoulders and must deliver if Balochistan is to be saved and prevented from falling into a still further state of anarchy.