US forces bomb Pakistani villages and launch raids to pick up Pakistani terrorists from Pakistan
Unacceptable
ISLAMABAD has finally lodged a protest with the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan over a serious incident of intrusion in North Waziristan on Saturday. Eight tribesmen were killed, including two women and a child, and nine wounded when an American helicopter fired on the house of a religious leader inside North Waziristan. The local residents charged that earlier US troops mounted on five vehicles had conducted a search operation in the village and carried away two local tribesmen. While US troops have made several incursions inside Pakistan’s tribal areas in the past, this is perhaps the worst incident of its type. Once more we have been reminded that the US and allied troops have scant respect for international borders, even with allies. This also strengthens the perception that they have been emboldened by the rather weak protests from Islamabad on previous incursions.
The way the hunt for Al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants has been conducted over the last three years in the two Waziristan Agencies has made the life of the tribesmen, and in many cases that of the people in the adjoining settled areas, miserable. During the Afghan elections, both presidential and parliamentary, Pakistani troops, 70,000 at the peak, were stationed along the Durand Line. The pickets set up to watch the activities of the militants led to incidents involving innocent tribesmen. Many innocent people died in the crossfire between militants and security agencies. The government maintained that the operation was needed to forestall US intrusion in ‘hot pursuit’ of militants. Yet despite the fullest possible cooperation from Pakistan, US troops continue to cross the border at will while their drones, jets planes and helicopters apparently routinely violate the country’s airspace. The house targeted by the US helicopter had already been searched by Pakistani forces, which had found nothing objectionable. That US occupation forces targeted the house and arrested Pakistani tribesmen after the operation indicates a lack of confidence in Pakistani forces.
While the Americans are interested in a speedy completion of their mission, they are creating problems that will haunt Pakistan for decades. Any action by foreign troops inside the country’s territory sends a message to the tribesmen that the security forces are unable to safeguard their lives and properties. That a tribal jirga in North Waziristan demanded the withdrawal of security forces from the area on Sunday indicates the depth of feeling. Under the circumstances, it must be ensured that such incidents do not recur. For this, the other side must be plainly told that the Pakistan Army can defend the country’s soil by all necessary means, if there is another violation of the sanctity of the border, and that Islamabad’s support for the so-called War on Terror is neither unconditional nor perpetual.
ISLAMABAD has finally lodged a protest with the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan over a serious incident of intrusion in North Waziristan on Saturday. Eight tribesmen were killed, including two women and a child, and nine wounded when an American helicopter fired on the house of a religious leader inside North Waziristan. The local residents charged that earlier US troops mounted on five vehicles had conducted a search operation in the village and carried away two local tribesmen. While US troops have made several incursions inside Pakistan’s tribal areas in the past, this is perhaps the worst incident of its type. Once more we have been reminded that the US and allied troops have scant respect for international borders, even with allies. This also strengthens the perception that they have been emboldened by the rather weak protests from Islamabad on previous incursions.
The way the hunt for Al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants has been conducted over the last three years in the two Waziristan Agencies has made the life of the tribesmen, and in many cases that of the people in the adjoining settled areas, miserable. During the Afghan elections, both presidential and parliamentary, Pakistani troops, 70,000 at the peak, were stationed along the Durand Line. The pickets set up to watch the activities of the militants led to incidents involving innocent tribesmen. Many innocent people died in the crossfire between militants and security agencies. The government maintained that the operation was needed to forestall US intrusion in ‘hot pursuit’ of militants. Yet despite the fullest possible cooperation from Pakistan, US troops continue to cross the border at will while their drones, jets planes and helicopters apparently routinely violate the country’s airspace. The house targeted by the US helicopter had already been searched by Pakistani forces, which had found nothing objectionable. That US occupation forces targeted the house and arrested Pakistani tribesmen after the operation indicates a lack of confidence in Pakistani forces.
While the Americans are interested in a speedy completion of their mission, they are creating problems that will haunt Pakistan for decades. Any action by foreign troops inside the country’s territory sends a message to the tribesmen that the security forces are unable to safeguard their lives and properties. That a tribal jirga in North Waziristan demanded the withdrawal of security forces from the area on Sunday indicates the depth of feeling. Under the circumstances, it must be ensured that such incidents do not recur. For this, the other side must be plainly told that the Pakistan Army can defend the country’s soil by all necessary means, if there is another violation of the sanctity of the border, and that Islamabad’s support for the so-called War on Terror is neither unconditional nor perpetual.
posted by India News Watch at 2:03 PM
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