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President Barack Obama has confirmed the use of unmanned drones to kill suspected terrorists in Pakistan's tribal areas, a programme that has intensified during his term and is a constant source of friction with the government in Islamabad.
It is the first official confirmation of a so-far secret programme, run from the CIA's headquarters in Langley.
Analysts believe it may be the result of wide-ranging debate about the legality of using unmanned aircraft to kill American citizens, following the death last year of Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaeda cleric and propagandist.
In a web chat with users of Google+ and YouTube on Monday night, Mr Obama said many of the strikes had been carried out in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
"For the most part, they've been very precise precision strikes against al-Qaeda and their affiliates, and we're very careful in terms of how it's been applied," he said.
"This is a targeted focused effort at people who are on a list of active terrorists, who are trying to go in and harm Americans, hit American facilities, American bases, and so on."
America's drone programme was one of the worst-kept secrets in Pakistan.
According to a tally kept by the AFP news agency, 45 missile strikes were reported in Pakistan's tribal belt in 2009, 101 in 2010 and 64 in 2011.
Last year the Bureau of Investigative Journalism published research showing that 160 children had died in the attacks during the past seven years.
The number of attacks escalated under Mr Obama as the focus appeared to change from high-value targets to al-Qaeda and Taliban foot soldiers.
Earlier this month, a drone strike claimed the life of Aslam Awan, an al-Qaeda operative who had studied in Manchester.
Pakistan has publicly denounced the attacks but its leaders have privately given their approval, according to diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks.
Hasan Askari Rizvi said Washington had been questioning its position on drones since al-Awlaki, an American citizen whose internet broadcasts lifted him to prominence with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was killed in September.
"Because of this debate it looks as if they may have decided to go public," said Mr Rizvi.
He added America's openness would leave Pakistan with an awkward dilemma, as it tried to placate anti-Western sentiment while remaining an ally of the US.
"Now the government will have to take a definite position," he said
It is the first official confirmation of a so-far secret programme, run from the CIA's headquarters in Langley.
Analysts believe it may be the result of wide-ranging debate about the legality of using unmanned aircraft to kill American citizens, following the death last year of Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaeda cleric and propagandist.
In a web chat with users of Google+ and YouTube on Monday night, Mr Obama said many of the strikes had been carried out in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
"For the most part, they've been very precise precision strikes against al-Qaeda and their affiliates, and we're very careful in terms of how it's been applied," he said.
"This is a targeted focused effort at people who are on a list of active terrorists, who are trying to go in and harm Americans, hit American facilities, American bases, and so on."
America's drone programme was one of the worst-kept secrets in Pakistan.
According to a tally kept by the AFP news agency, 45 missile strikes were reported in Pakistan's tribal belt in 2009, 101 in 2010 and 64 in 2011.
Last year the Bureau of Investigative Journalism published research showing that 160 children had died in the attacks during the past seven years.
The number of attacks escalated under Mr Obama as the focus appeared to change from high-value targets to al-Qaeda and Taliban foot soldiers.
Earlier this month, a drone strike claimed the life of Aslam Awan, an al-Qaeda operative who had studied in Manchester.
Pakistan has publicly denounced the attacks but its leaders have privately given their approval, according to diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks.
Hasan Askari Rizvi said Washington had been questioning its position on drones since al-Awlaki, an American citizen whose internet broadcasts lifted him to prominence with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was killed in September.
"Because of this debate it looks as if they may have decided to go public," said Mr Rizvi.
He added America's openness would leave Pakistan with an awkward dilemma, as it tried to placate anti-Western sentiment while remaining an ally of the US.
"Now the government will have to take a definite position," he said
what he said new?
