A new report by International Crisis Group has said US drone strikes won’t end jehadi threat in Pakistan’s tribal areas and it was must for new government in Pakistan to extend State’s writ in all tribal areas.

Islamabad, May 22/Nationalturk – The US drone strikes won’t end jehadi threat in Pakistan’s tribal areas and it was must for new government in country to extend State’s writ in all tribal areas, a new report has stated.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) in its latest report, “Drones: Myths and Reality in Pakistan”, examined in extensive detail the US drone strikes in Pakistan.

IGG is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict.

The ICG report argues that US needs to be transparent about its drone policies and bring them in accord with legality and enhanced congressional oversight and judicial accountability, while Pakistan must live up to its responsibility for governance and security in FATA.

The report has urged Pakistan’s new government to be headed by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to extend the state’s writ in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). “The new Pakistan dispensation should bring violent extremists to justice, thus diminishing Washington’s perceived need to conduct drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal belt”.

‘Drones are not long-term solution’

It said the drones are not a long-term solution to the problem. “The jihadi groups in FATA will continue to recruit as long as the region remains an ungoverned no-man’s land.”

“The US while pressuring the Pakistan military to end all support to violent extremists, should also support civilian efforts to bring FATA into the constitutional and legal mainstream,” it said.

The ICG report said lack of candour from the US and Pakistan governments on the drone program undermines efforts to assess its legality or its full impact on FATA’s population. “US refuses to officially acknowledge the program; Pakistan portrays it as a violation of national sovereignty, but ample evidence exists of tacit Pakistani consent and, at times, active cooperation.”

It said Pakistan must ensure that its actions and those of the US comply with the principles of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law. “Independent observers should have access to targeted areas, where significant military and militant-imposed barriers have made accurate assessments of the program’s impact, including collateral damage, nearly impossible.”

‘US should cease signature strikes’

The ICG report urged US to cease any practices such as “signature strikes”, that do not comply with international humanitarian law. “US should develop a legal framework that defines clear roles for the executive, legislative and judicial branches, converting the drone program from a covert CIA operation to a military-run program with a meaningful level of judicial and Congressional oversight”.

“The core of any Pakistani counter-terrorism strategy in this area should be to incorporate FATA into the country’s legal and constitutional mainstream”, said Samina Ahmed, Crisis Group’s Senior Asia Adviser.

She said for Pakistan, the solution lies in overhauling an anachronistic governance system so as to establish fundamental constitutional rights and genuine political enfranchisement in FATA, along with a state apparatus capable of upholding the rule of law and bringing violent extremists to justice.

 

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News

 

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