Behind the scenes: Drone strikes will end soon, Obama assures Nawaz

[Edevelop]

ISLAMABAD:
While any mention of the drone issue was conspicuously missing in their joint statement, US President Barack Obama has privately assured Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that the controversial programme will end soon, according to a senior Pakistani official.

The official, who was accompanying the prime minister on his just-concluded visit to Washington, told The Express Tribune that ‘significant progress’ has been made on the drone issue.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, he said Washington was considering ending the drone campaign once the “few remaining targets” had been eliminated from Pakistan’s tribal belt. According to the official, President Obama told Prime Minister Nawaz that the CIA had already eliminated most of the high-value targets (HVTs) from the region.

Although the American president did not give a timeline for halting the drone campaign, Islamabad expects the unilateral strikes will end in a matter of months, he said.

Another source, meanwhile, pointed out that, unlike previous assessments, the Obama administration informed the new government that the drone programme would not continue beyond 2014.

Nawaz Sharif, who was on a first bilateral trip to US since his party swept to power following the May 11 elections, raised the issue of drone strikes in his meeting with Obama. But the US president remained silent on the matter at the joint news conference at the Oval Office in the White House.

Behind closed doors, however, Obama assured Premier Nawaz that drone strikes would only be used as a last option, claimed the senior official. He said the US president also said that he had directed the CIA to ensure greater transparency in conducting the strikes and avoiding collateral damage while eliminating the remaining HVTs.

The Express Tribune has also learnt that the US may temporarily suspend drone strikes in the tribal areas in an effort to allow the government to conduct peace talks with the Taliban.

Prime Minister Nawaz himself hinted on Thursday that the drone issue would “settle down somehow.”

“Hopefully, the drone issue will be resolved according to the wishes of the Pakistani people soon… There was definitely some progress on the matter [during the meetings] and I think this issue will now settle down somehow,” he said while talking to reporters during a brief stopover in London on his return to Pakistan.

Earlier, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had also hinted at a possible end to drone attacks.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Aziz claimed that the US administration had given assurances to consider Islamabad’s request on drone attacks behind the scenes. He did not give further details, however.

The US considers the drone programme as crucial to eradicate high value targets associated with al Qaeda and the Taliban from the tribal areas.

Pakistan has publicly condemned such strikes and in recent years has been more vocal against the CIA-led campaign.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/622245/...ne-strikes-will-end-soon-obama-assures-nawaz/

 

[naveen mishra]

No change in US drone policy

WASHINGTON: The United States says it wants to see Hafiz Saeed arrested, and remains concerned about his movements and activities, while President Barack Obama kept his silence on any change in American drone attacks policy for Pakistan.



A senior US official reminded on Thursday that “there’s a reward out for any information against Hafiz Saeed.” The official also emphasised that they want the Government of Pakistan to enforce sanctions against Hafiz Saeed.



AFP reported that US President Obama promised to consider Pakistan’s concerns in the post-war Afghanistan, but kept mum on a call by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to end drone strikes.



Nawaz urged an end to drone strikes against the Taliban during his meeting with President Obama. Obama did not mention drones and the two leaders did not take questions.



The White House responded by defending drone strikes, saying that it takes great care to avoid civilian deaths and that the remote-controlled attacks are more precise than other methods to target extremists, the news agency reported.



Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had also confirmed that the matter of Hafiz Saeed was brought up in his meeting with President Obama.



Briefing the media before his departure, the prime minister said he had asked for more evidence against Hafiz Saeed andevidence against Hafiz Saeed and JuD. However, the State Department on Thursday reiterated that evidence against Hafiz Saeed “has already been shared.”



The department official repeated that there’s a reward out and that’s significant enough that we want him arrested.”Discussing the meeting points between President Obama and Prime Minister Sharif, the official said that the US is also concerned about Dr Shakeel Afridi, who helped the CIA nail down Osama bin Laden. His immediate release was demanded by the House Foreign Affairs Committee during its meeting with the prime minister.



The official termed the prime minister’s visit to the US historical but declared that “any significant announcement or signing of something huge was not expected.”The officials said every part of the bilateral relationship was discussed. “What we really wanted to focus on the breadth and depth of ongoing conversation,” they said, adding that “It’s very much the continuation of dialogue.”



The official expressed that the US backs Pakistan’s initiative to start dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban.“It’s his (PM) decision. We’re not trying to steer him in one direction or another,” the official said, adding, “We understand the conditions are that the TTP has to accept the constitution and the rule of law, and of course we accept those objectives.”



The official made clear that this stance does not mean a change in policy towards the TTP. “The US strongly opposes the TTP consistently, and wants an effective action against them when opportunity arises,” the official said.



Senior State department and administration officials also reaffirmed strong and continued support for Pakistani efforts to curb militancy and terrorism. The main concerns remained cross border terrorism, militancy and security situation in the region.



Pakistan has declared that it has a non-interference policy towards Afghanistan and fully supports the Afghan led reconciliation process. The country will also use its influence for peace and stability in the Afghanistan.



Pakistan also raised the issue of Afghan soil being used against it. The officials said: “We made clear that we are against the use of proxies, that we oppose cross-border militancy.”They noted Pakistan’s concern with regard to infiltration troubles in Balochistan and KPK from its neighbors. “It is a sort of reverse sanctuaries,” senior State Department official remarked.



The prime minister also brought up the issue of Kashmir LoC violations and asked the US to use its influence and encourage Pakistan-India dialogue to resolve issues.The officials said: “We very much support improvements in this relationship and will continue to use our influence with both governments to encourage them to move in that direction.”



The sour matter of drone strikes was also raised. US officials mentioned: “The PM raised the drone issue in both public and private discussion,” but refused to elaborate the US response too.”The officials highlighted that bilateral ties between the US and Pakistan will see progress in coming weeks, since working groups under the Strategic Dialogue will meet up soon.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-26260-No-change-in-US-drone-policy